Within the framework of the 2nd Spring Cultural Festival of the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU), titled “Epestrefe” (“Return”), the photo exhibition “The Greek Miracle in Tashkent” is presented. It is a historical and cultural tribute to the Greek presence and diaspora in Central Asia.
The exhibition will be hosted at the Municipal Art Gallery of Heraklion (8 Chrysostomou Str.), from April 22 to 29, 2026, daily (except weekends), from 10:00–14:00 and 18:00–21:00. Admission is free to the public.
Through 100 rare historical photographs and archival materials, the exhibition highlights a lesser-known yet significant aspect of Hellenism, linked to the history of displacement, survival, and cultural continuity. The case of the Greek communities in Central Asia demonstrates their ability to preserve, redefine, and transform their identity across different social and geographical contexts.
The exhibition is structured into three main sections:
– The life of political refugees in Tashkent (1949–1970)
– The deportations of Pontic Greeks (1937–1949)
– The contemporary Greek Cultural Center in Tashkent
In parallel, a special section titled “Coins” will also be presented.
Opening & Lecture
The exhibition Greek Miracle in Tashkent Exhibition | HMU Spring Festival 2026 opening will take place on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 19:00, at the Municipal Art Gallery of Heraklion.
The keynote speaker will be Konstantinos Politis, architect and expert in cultural heritage management, with extensive international experience and significant contribution to highlighting the Greek presence in Central Asia.
His lecture, titled “Hellenism in Asia Through Time – Transformations and Hybrid Societies”, focuses on the enduring character of Hellenism, which, as he notes, “is not a transient historical phenomenon, but a continuous cultural presence that evolves, survives, and regenerates through successive historical phases.”
From antiquity to the modern diaspora, the Greek world in Asia functions as a space of synthesis, dialogue, and adaptation, while “its strength lies not in territorial continuity, but in its ability to regenerate through memory, discourse, and creation.”
Konstantinos Politis has been active in more than 15 countries, collaborating with international organizations such as UNESCO, and since 2020 he serves as President of the Greek Community of Uzbekistan, actively contributing to the revitalization and strengthening of the Greek diaspora in the region.
Context
It is noted that the theme of the exhibition is connected to the opening event of the festival, which took place on March 20 at the Municipal Art Gallery of Heraklion, featuring a lecture by Dr. Nikos Dalla titled “The Democratic Army through the Archives of Tashkent”. The event highlighted historical aspects of the Greek presence in the region and served as an introduction to the exhibition’s content.
