I’ve been sad and concerned about the recent violence in the Republic of Karakalpakstan. I have such fond memories of spending time there exploring Islamic heritage while on a research fellowship.
Specifically, I was exploring Sufi shrines, madrasas, cemeteries, and underground graves throughout Karakalpakstan. Best of all, however, I got to visit my favorite museum in the world — the Savitsky Museum (Nukus Museum of Art) — home to an outstanding collection of Russian avant-garde artworks banned during the Soviet period. The documentary, The Desert of Forbidden Art, dives into this unique and fascinating collection and history.
