From June 11 to 23, 2026, the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan will host a unique photography exhibition, “Journey Through the Turkmen Lands.” Visitors will see rare photographs taken by French photographer Paul Nadar in 1890, a captivating glimpse into life in Central Asia at the turn of the epoch.
The exhibition will feature portraits of local residents and majestic landscapes of the Turkmen lands, capturing the region’s unique heritage.
Passionate about technological innovation and travel, Paul Nadar (1856–1939) became one of the most prominent French photographers of his time. His expeditions captured territories virtually unknown to Europeans, leaving behind a rich visual legacy of significant historical and cultural interest.
In 1890, Paul Nadar visited Central Asia within the framework of the first International Exhibition in Tashkent and in connection with the development of the Trans-Caspian Railway. Invited to document this journey, he became a conduit for the burgeoning interest in the region.
The exhibition was organized by the French Institute and the Embassy of France in Turkmenistan with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan.
The project was implemented with the assistance of the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan, the French Institute for Central Asian Studies (IFEAC) and Total Energies.
