Sneak peak of chapter 3 of my forthcoming manuscript though I still need to continue editing.
This monumental artist, citizen, artsociologist, one of the main protagonists of my next book, Askhat Akhmediyarov has his Birthday today.
Thank you for all your work and inspiration, Shyraqshy!
13.03.2026 21:35
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When they ask me for the author's photo, I cannot help it but I cannot send this one.
You get the irony, right? ahahaha
Searching for another photo though...
12.03.2026 14:48
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Have you heard these stories?
Why the challenges of colonialism and sexism are so similar.
"The Ukrainian colleague who walks into her office on the 25th of February 2022 at a Western institution: The professor comes up to her and says, βI am so sorry! Itβs just awful! I love Russia so much!β" by @efdavies.bsky.social
efdavies.substack.com/p/have-you-h...
09.03.2026 09:52
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I wish I could make it to Amsterdam but it is madness in my schedule
06.03.2026 14:35
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Londoners!
There's still time to make plans to come to Aziza Kadyri's talk tonight at SSEES.
Aziza is an artist known for her beautiful, emotive rendering of identities, fragmented past and second-hand nostalgia. She's a tireless archivist of diasporic embodied knowledge, memories and feelings. <3
06.03.2026 11:57
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Inspiring. Seseg gave a very sincere, vulnerable and touching talk at our last @associationruta.bsky.social conference in Ukraine and I encourage everyone to see her illustrations. She has a book coming up on Buryat struggles under Russian colonialism and her own journey after forced Russification
06.03.2026 10:11
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New perspectives on Romani pasts, presents and futures
YouTube video by The Ruta Association
This was a very, very interesting The RUTA Association webinar. I learned a lot and ordered these two books for the Helsinki University library. Can't wait to read them. Highly, highly recommended www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_85...
05.03.2026 09:26
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In memory of Pete, we have launched the Pete Duncan Memorial Fund, which will support PhD students at the School. Donations can be made via peter-duncan-2026.muchloved.com
02.03.2026 11:42
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Dilyara Kaipova is featured in Chapter 4 of my forthcoming book on political art. She's an amazing artist and a superb storyteller!
I also need to interview Fabienne and Γsel Kadyrkhanova soon.
So, go to Amsterdam and listen to our podcast too!!!
27.02.2026 23:12
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btw, one of the participant artists, Kamila Narysheva is featured in one of our YurtJurt podcast episodes and we were crying and hugging after we recorded it.
Kamila Smagulova who is also part of the exhibition project is also featured in our podcast.
27.02.2026 23:12
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A reminder to join us this Friday for a crucial RUTA webinar with @magdamatache.bsky.social and @madelinepotter.bsky.social
Registration link: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
25.02.2026 15:20
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DO NOT DESPAIR β darya tsymbalyuk
[you can watch the recording from ASEEES 2023 Presidential Planery: Decolonization in Practice (2023)Β here]Β DO NOT DESPAIR a letter to a scholar...
It feels important and almost urgent to re-share the text by Darya Tsymbalyuk today. "DO NOT DESPAIR. A letter to a scholar whose homeland will be attacked by Russia next."
Glory to Ukraine, its heroes and heroines today and all the days to come. daryatsymbalyuk.com/DO-NOT-DESPAIR
24.02.2026 12:28
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An evening with AZIZA KADYRI
SSEES Politics and Sociology Seminar Series presents AZIZA KADYRI
Aziza Kadyri talk at UCL SSEES
Friday, 6 March
5 pm to 7.30 pm (wine reception and nibbles)
Address: 16 Taviton Road, SSEES, 4th Floor, Masaryk Room.
Register below π
www.ucl.ac.uk/arts-humanit...
And before that, attend her superb exhibition "Play Nice" at Somerset House!
24.02.2026 21:13
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Mark your calendars for the super exciting evening with one of the most talented contemporary Uzbek artists Aziza Kadyri!
next Friday, 6 March, SSEES, London
@uclssees.bsky.social
24.02.2026 17:12
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Thank you for having me on YurtJurt, and for this conversation about the global rise of the far right and the ways to defy old legacies of imperialismβdesigned to divide and conquer usβwhile coming together to oppose their current forms and the propaganda that keeps pitting us against one another
19.02.2026 17:11
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On this day, 82 years ago, the Soviet Union launched an ethnic cleansing operation, deporting entire Chechen and Ingush populations from the North Caucasus to Central Asia. Hundreds of thousands died due to inhumane conditions during the deportations or at the place of forced settlement.
19.02.2026 07:19
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Kyrgyzstanβs Constitutional Court has just ruled that Japarov can serve out his full six-year term under the conditions of the previous constitution. Looks like there wonβt be any early presidential elections in 2026. His re-election should take place in 2027 for a second 5-year term.
17.02.2026 12:35
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but more about it in my forthcoming writing, and most importantly, in my best texts, most of which are written and published (and will be published) and are available only in Central Asia. Because texts that are written at home are so-so different.
17.02.2026 12:30
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It is the incredible privilege because the type of languages and the type of decolonial praxis that is formed collectively at home, in these circles, is indeed not available to all. So, I'd like to think of myself as the contemporary speaker of this new language - neither colonial nor nationalist.
17.02.2026 12:30
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one can trace how my writing was tremendously influenced by my fieldwork and friendships with local artists starting from old and established artists (even of Soviet period) like Gerold Berger, and through my engagement with contemporary art, and latest experimental music scenes.
17.02.2026 12:30
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the way to write differently. Plus, as I always say, I've been engaged with Central Asian art fields for the longer time than even my academic career even though that particular book on art of mine is not out yet. In fact, it turned into endless and unfinished book projects.
but at the same time,
17.02.2026 12:30
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I think many of the tendencies of how my arguments formed in this book, in particular, are also reflective of the tectonic shifts that happened in the field in the past ten years. The new generation of scholars coming from Central Asia like Bota Kassymbekova, Assel Tutumlu, Erica Marat showed
17.02.2026 12:30
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What Does It Mean to Be Kazakhstani? Power, Identity and Nation-Building; The Creation of Kazakh National Identity. The Relationship with Russia, 1900β2015: Europe-Asia Studies: Vol 78 , No 1 - Get Access
Browse all journals
Victoria Clement reviewed my book in comparison with Shlapentokh book she calls "written form Russian prism" but it is also an old book (2015). Mine is very new - What Does It Mean to Be Kazakhstani - was published just last year.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
17.02.2026 12:30
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