It may come as a surprise, but even a seemingly small and almost provincial city like Nukus may host a fascinating museum. Some fine art experts call it the small Asian Louvre, as its many treasures tell about the history of the country and the beauty of the world too. By the way, it is here that the second most extensive collection of Russian avant-garde paintings in the world, after the Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg, is presented. We are now talking about the Karakalpakstan State Museum of Art named after I.V. Savitsky. It is often called the Nukus Museum for short.

Of course, firstly, people come here to see the magnificent and currently the largest collection of archaeological artifacts and folk art of Asia. The beauty that guests find here is exceptional. The finest works of ancient artisans confirm that jewelry, wood and stone carvings, pottery industry flourished in this area many centuries ago.

And, of course, people come to this museum to get acquainted with a plethora of works by Russian avant-garde artists. There are many paradoxes connected with the collection. For example, two paintings may be placed side by side: one refers to the avant-garde style that criticized the Soviet regime, and the other to socialist realism, which, on the contrary, glorified the Soviet state.

Another interesting fact: Savitsky’s collection presented in this museum became the first collection of paintings that was officially criticized by the authorities. It was possible to preserve these treasures only because Nukus had the status of a «closed» city for a long time, few people came here, so the authorities believed that the collection would not harm any person from the ideological point of view.

In 2003, when the museum gained worldwide recognition as the owner of one of the most outstanding collections, it got a new building. All exhibits are now hosted on three floors; all halls are equipped with modern systems that help preserve the most valuable canvases. And the country considers the museum one of the main attractions of Nukus and the entire country.