The Desert of Forbidden Art (1:20) 2010

Igor Savitsky's efforts to save forty-four thousand works of art is highlighted. This documentary tells the incredible true story of this man's tireless effort to save the works of artists who were the enemies of Stalin's government. Savitsky risk his life many times in doing so. Naturally, one would ask, "Where do you hide all these works?"  The works are displayed in a museum in the desert of Uzbekistan, To be more precise the works are held by Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art. Also known as the Nukus Museum, the museum is located in Karakalpakstan, a independent state of Uzbekistan. This independent state is one of the world's poorest but is rich in avant garde Russian works. The Nukus Museum is highlighted, many paintings are shown and their system of keeping the dry air humidified is discussed. The museum workers manually place pans of water in the different galleries .to help keep moisture in the air. I highly recommend this documentary about a determined man and the artists who held on to the belief that their art said it all and needed to be kept alive.