International Art Event "The Big Wash" Held in Ashgabat
Imagine an ordinary schoolyard transforming, in just a few hours, into an open-air art gallery. Instead of formal frames, there are clotheslines; instead of heavy-duty mounts, there are wooden clothespins; and instead of the hushed silence of a museum, there is a gentle breeze rustling through hundreds of vibrant drawings. Turkmenistan has once again hosted the international art event "The Big Wash" (La Grande Lessive), bringing a celebration of freedom and creativity to the residents of Ashgabat.
The creative wave first swept through the courtyard of the French School, then moved to the grounds of the French Institute the following day.
This time, the scale of the art "flash mob" exceeded the organizers' expectations. While previous editions primarily involved children from the capital, the event’s reach has expanded significantly. Participants from Anau and Arkadag joined in, alongside students from Ashgabat’s general education schools, the MLF-Bouygues French School, the Ashgabat International School, the French Institute, and various universities in the capital, all sharing their unique artistic perspectives on the world.
Young children, school-age students, university students, and adults all came together in a single space. There were no grades, competitions, or age barriers—everyone created as equals, becoming part of a vast international movement that, over the years, has brought together more than fifteen million people across 130 countries and five continents.
The special festive atmosphere was bolstered by the presence of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Turkmenistan, Alena Grend, who also took an active part in the performance. The diplomat brought a drawing made by her son and hung it up herself among hundreds of other pieces, embracing the core concept of the flash mob.
The idea of transforming streets into galleries originated in France in 2006, conceived by artist Joëlle Gontier. At the heart of the concept lies a subtle irony regarding domestic routine: the project’s creator decided to "do the laundry"—not by hanging out clothes, but by putting human thoughts, emotions, and dreams on display. Each such event serves as an example of classic ephemeral art; the exhibition lasts for exactly 24 hours. By evening, the drawings are taken down, the lines are rolled up, and the city returns to its usual rhythm, leaving behind only memories and photographs.
The participants' imagination made the exhibition incredibly vibrant, despite the project’s strict rules. According to the manifesto, all works must be strictly two-dimensional and created on A4-sized paper. This format levels the playing field between a professional artist and, for instance, a five-year-old child, aligning their work into one seamless, continuous line. At the same time, the choice of artistic technique remains completely open.
The theme for the autumn "Big Wash" of 2026 was the word "Photography"—broken down into its two constituent parts: "photo" (light/image) and "graphics" (drawing/design).
In Ashgabat, bold collages swayed on lines—works in which classical drawing intertwined with photography. These striking, symmetrical images featured a real photograph on one half of the sheet, while the other half served as an exact continuation, recreated in pencil or paint. Within these mirrored worlds, frozen cityscapes and human faces took on a dual existence. Other artists went even further, creating seamless fusions where a printed photograph appeared to sprout graphic strokes, leaving the viewer to wonder where the lens’s work ended and the artist’s hand took over.
Some participants abandoned traditional drawing tools altogether, opting for an exceptionally delicate and painstaking approach. Visitors were particularly captivated by a piece embroidered onto paper using a sewing machine; instead of graphite or ink, the texture and contours were defined by precise, quilted stitching that pierced the thick paper. The work possessed a sense of volume, casting shifting shadows in the breeze and drawing the eye with its fragile beauty. Other artists sought to capture the world through the eyes of a professional photographer—as if viewed through a camera lens—or used graphic techniques to render the subtle interplay of light and shadow on the streets of the city at dusk.
In short, each standard sheet of paper became a vivid, personal statement on a specific theme—a theme announced by the organizers for every new event.
Behind this light and airy celebration lies a great deal of hard work. The success of this initiative in Turkmenistan has been made possible by the sincere dedication of the local organizers—the French Institute in Turkmenistan and the MLF-Bouygues French School. For several years now, Ayna Shirova has served as the project coordinator. She helps bring creative young people together, demonstrating that one does not need expensive galleries to engage with beauty. All that is required is a sheet of paper, good company, and a dash of imagination.
Ayna Yolbarsova
