It is generally known that Fergana valley is called The Pearl
of Central Asia. We do believe that Fergana
city can easily bear the name of The Pearl of Fergana valley.
Historically, Fergana may be compared to Antiochia
ad Oronte, so antique with its Greek and Syrian inhabitants
with glowing splendor and idyl of Hellenic culture.
Fergana emerged as a city back in 1877 on the banks of Margilan
river. It is the city with ancient and clean architectonics
of the town-planning structure, straight avenues with plane
trees forming a permanent shade during hot July days. The city
is beautifully linked to all the nearby suburbs, including the
slightly more remote Shakhimardan village also known as the
Swiss Alps of Fergana valley.
The beauty and peace dwell in this area for decades and all
this nurtured many Fergana artists whose talents ranged from
brutal cosmopolitism and avantgarde to traditionalism and very
dense realism.
Fergana art school began with Alexander Volkov, who in early
1920s created a number of masterpieces including the "Pomegranate
Teahouse", the world class painting that is kept in Tretyakov
Gallery in Moscow.
His followers and students include Peter Nikiforov - a Master
of delicate watercolor landscapes and still life poems, Leo
Panchenko, Alexander Uzlov, Leo Snegirev
and many others, who in 1960s-70s made Fergana a respectful
member of fine art community.
