Cultural Heritage Agency clarifies artworks on OLX not from State Museum
Recently, there was a buzz on the Internet regarding the sale of paintings from the State Art Museum’s collection on the popular OLX portal. Social media users were quick to point out that works by renowned artists like Ural Tansykbayev and Medat Kagarov were being listed for sale on the platform. Many public activists speculated that these paintings were from the State Art Museum, which is currently closed for renovations.
However, the Cultural Heritage Agency stepped in to clarify the situation, stating that after thorough inspections, it was confirmed that the paintings in question are not part of the museum’s collection. They also stressed that there is no connection between the sale of these paintings and the closure of the State Art Museum of Uzbekistan for reconstruction.
In a statement, the Agency highlighted the digitization of all exhibits in the State Art Museum and the continuous growth of electronically identifiable museum items. They disclosed that there are over 2.5 million museum collection items in state museum funds, with a significant portion on display for public viewing.
The Agency expressed gratitude to social media users for their vigilance in safeguarding artworks, while reminding them of the importance of verifying information before jumping to conclusions. They urged the public to uphold ethical standards in information dissemination and refrain from tarnishing the trust and reputation of museums. The Agency advised reporting any future cases of illegal handling of cultural heritage objects to the authorities.
This incident serves as a reminder of the need for responsible behavior when sharing information online, especially when it concerns the preservation of valuable cultural heritage. It also underscores the importance of collaboration between the public and relevant authorities to ensure the protection of our artistic treasures.
