From June 11 to 23, 2026, the State Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan will host an exclusive photographic exhibition titled "Journey to the Turkmen Land." Visitors will have a rare opportunity to view archival photographs captured by the renowned French photographer Paul Nadar in 1890. The curated collection offers an evocative visual chronicle of daily life, culture, and society in Central Asia at the turn of the 20th century.

The exposition focuses on portraits of local inhabitants and landscape photographs showcasing the geography of the Turkmen territories. Each archived image serves as an essential ethnographic record, preservation tool, and artistic narrative, detailing the region's cultural heritage during a period of significant geopolitical and infrastructural transitions.

Paul Nadar (1856–1939), celebrated for his technical ingenuity and passion for travel, became one of the most prominent French photographers of his era. In 1890, he embarked on a major journey across Central Asia, timed to coincide with the first International Exhibition in Tashkent and the strategic expansion of the Trans-Caspian Railway. His extensive travels allowed him to document territories previously unfamiliar to European audiences, leaving behind a rich visual legacy of immense historical value.

The cultural project is organized by the French Institute and the Embassy of France in Turkmenistan, with the official institutional support of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan. The initiative was made possible through the joint collaboration of the Museum of Fine Arts, the French Institute for Central Asian Studies (IFEAC), and the international energy corporation TotalEnergies. This exhibition aims to further strengthen the bilateral cultural and artistic exchange between the two nations.