Journey Through Turkmen Lands: Paul Nadar Photo Exhibition Will Be Opened in Ashgabat
Journey Through Turkmen Lands: Paul Nadar Photo Exhibition Will Be Opened in From June 11 to 23, 2026, the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan will host a unique photography exhibition entitled “Journey Through Turkmen Lands.” Visitors will have the opportunity to discover rare photographs taken by French photographer Paul Nadar in 1890, offering a fascinating glimpse into life in Central Asia at a turning point in history.
The exhibition is organized by the French Institute and the Embassy of France in Turkmenistan with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan. The project has been made possible through the cooperation of the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan, the French Institute for Central Asian Studies (IFEAC), and TotalEnergies.
The exhibition will feature portraits of local residents and magnificent landscapes of Turkmen lands, capturing the region’s unique heritage. These images not only serve as a visual chronicle of the 1890s but also act as a bridge for cultural exchange, strengthening Franco-Turkmen ties.
A Special Highlight of the Exhibition
The event will welcome Ms. Svetlana Gorshenina, Research Director at CNRS (Eur'Orbem, Paris) and visiting researcher at IFEAC. An expert in the history of Central Asia, she will share her insights into the significance of Nadar’s work for understanding the region and its place in global culture.
About Paul Nadar
Paul Nadar (1856–1939), the son of renowned French photographer Félix Nadar, continued the family tradition while developing his own distinctive approach to documentary photography. Passionate about technological innovation and travel, he became one of the most prominent French photographers of his era. His expeditions enabled him to document territories that were largely unknown to Europeans, leaving behind a rich visual legacy of considerable historical and cultural value.
A Unique Journey into the Heart of Central Asia
In 1890, Paul Nadar traveled to Central Asia on the occasion of the first International Exhibition in Tashkent and in connection with the development of the Trans-Caspian Railway, which at the time symbolized modernization and the opening of Central Asia to Europe. Invited to document the journey, he became a guide to the growing European interest in the region.
Beyond their documentary value, these photographs sensitively capture moments of everyday life and create a vivid portrait of Central Asia at the end of the nineteenth century. Today, they represent an invaluable heritage that helps us better understand the societies, cultures, and ways of life of that period.
An Invitation to Cultural Dialogue
Through portraits, landscapes, and scenes of daily life, the exhibition invites visitors to rediscover a shared cultural heritage and view history from a fresh perspective. It also highlights the role of photography in introducing Central Asia to European audiences and offers a captivating vision of the region at the end of the nineteenth century.
