‘16/19’ art exhibition promotes vaccination against COVID-19

TASHKENT, 15 March 2022 –UNICEF, in cooperation with the Service of Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health of Uzbekistan and the “Ilkhom” Theatre of Mark Weil, organized an art exhibition ’16/19’. The artwork of the Uzbek artists is open for visitors at the theatre from March 15 to April 25, 2022.

Joint efforts of partner organizations are aimed to promote COVID-19 vaccination by encouraging people to critically review their behaviour towards vaccination and other prevention measures.

The title ‘16/19’ means how 16 artwork visualizes the consequences of the COVID-19. The authors are sharing their vision of different personalities, and the possible consequences of their choices in reacting to the COVID-19. Depiction of the consequences of the COVID-19 is expected to influence people’s decisions and encourage them towards vaccination.

“To reach a high vaccination rate and minimize the risk of COVID-19 to the health, as well as to the socio-economic condition of the population, it is important to encourage the population to consider prevention measures. We hope that by visualization of people’s experience of COVID-19 through arts, we will be able to encourage more people to get vaccinated and help us in creating collective immunity,” said Botirjon Kurbonov, Deputy Head of the Service of Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health of Uzbekistan.

To promote COVID-19 preventive measures, including vaccination by engaging the communities for a dialogue with the help of arts, the ‘16/19’ exhibition promotes the discussions around different behaviours towards the COVID-19 pandemic. It encourages the visitors to critically consider their current attitude towards preventive measures and take necessary measures to support the public health measures towards COVID-19.  

Countries throughout the world have been affected by the COVID-19. According to WHO, more than 452 million cases and more than 6 million deaths were reported globally as of 12 March 2022.

“All countries having been affected by the COVID-19, with more than 452 million cases and more than 6 million deaths reported globally as of 12 March 2022, we are all still immensely vulnerable, grappling with the virus wave after wave. At UNICEF we are ultimately pushing for social dialogue that leads to behavioral and ultimately social change. Hence, we believe that visitors that will be immersed in the interpretation of the COVID-19 experience of 16 artists, will once again realize that prevention of COVID-19 and attempt to end COVID-19 pandemic through vaccination is an act that we need to take today, that it is not something that we can leave to tomorrow”, said Geoffrey Ijumba, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Uzbekistan.

The team of the “Ilkhom” Theatre mobilized artists to visualize the people’s attitudes during the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim to promote preventive measures, including vaccination. The artwork of artists reminds all people that COVID-19 preventive measures are easy, effective, and affordable ways to prevent infections and save lives.

“The global COVID-19 pandemic has affected, without exception, everyone. The main

message of the exhibition of young artists of Uzbekistan "16/19": we are all different, we have the right to fear, anxiety, pessimism and optimism. And we can support each other by taking each other's position. Art as a means of self-expression unites and teaches tolerance”, said Irina Kkharat, International program director of the “Ilkhom” Theatre.

For more information, please contact: 

Maftuna Ergasheva

Press Secretary, Service of Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health of Uzbekistan

Phone: +99899 841 25 90

E-mail: maftunasaidova90@mail.ru

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Anastasia Pryadkina

Literature art manager of the “Ilkhom” Theatre

Phone: +998 90 316 41 14

E-mail: ilkhom.theatre@gmail.com

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Nargiza Egamberdieva

Communication Oficer UNICEF Uzbekistan

Phone: +99871 233 95 12; +99893 380 34 19

E-mail: negamberdieva@unicef.org