This memoir has its own history. The idea to publish it originally came about in 1990, while I was defending my thesis Igor Savitsky: Artist, Art Historian, and Museum Founder at the Tashkent Theatre and Art Institute (Department of Theory and History of Art). Larissa Shostko, the prominent art critic and historian, was the first to suggest it. She and Lyudmila Kodzaeva, my other examiner, who were both familiar with Igor Savitsky's role in the history of 20th century art, rated the thesis highly and believed that it should be published.

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"There is no question that the holdings at Nukus represent one of the strongest and most diverse collections of 20th century Russian/Soviet art in public or private hands. A major exhibition . . . would not only provide a wonderful visual experience, but also force us to question our conventional attitudes towards the history of Russian and Soviet art in its international context."

John E. Bowlt, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures,
University of Southern California