In June of this year, Gennady Ratushenko, an engineer–surveyor and photojournalist with 50 years of experience, sent a letter to the editorial office of Asia–Plus, in which he proposed to create the first round-the-clock "Photo Gallery for everyone" in Kurushi Kabir Park. According to him, it could "saturate the park with elements of culture and art" and would be interesting to both local residents and guests of Dushanbe.
At first, the authorities seemed to have provided for the construction of a gallery, but not so long ago the wall where it was proposed to be built was broken. At the moment, the demolition of the house on Behzod–2 Street, where Gennady Ratushenko's photo gallery is located, is underway.
Ratushenko proposed opening the photo gallery for thousands of metropolitan amateur photographers last year next to the S. Aini Opera and Ballet Theater, the under-construction M. Sabirova Choreographic College and the A. Bobokulov Art School.
"This will be the third educational institution of information photographic culture and art for one hundred thousand untrained amateur photographers, which logically should be opened simultaneously with the completion of the above-mentioned educational institutions.
There are more than 2,400 cultural institutions of various forms registered in the country and so far there is not a single photo gallery for information and mass cultural events to promote social problems, photographic and exhibition activities of young people," writes Gennady Ratushenko.
The idea was supported by the Agency of State Material Resources under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, the leadership of the Opera and Ballet Theater named after S. Aini, as well as the General Directorate of Architecture and Urban Planning of Dushanbe.
However, the Department of Culture of the Dushanbe Khukumat refused, arguing that the construction of a gallery in Kurushi Kabir Park was "impractical." Then Gennady appealed to the mayor's office again. He has not received an answer yet.
Ratushenko notes that earlier, instead of seeking help from the state, he was offered to contact the owners of new high-rise buildings to build a photo gallery.
"And where is the concern for healthy aging, announced by the UN for the period from 2021 to 2030 and supported by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan? According to the General Plan, the Behzod–2 house, where my large photo gallery is temporarily stored, is subject to demolition. JSC "Our Beautiful City" has already started implementing its project, without taking care of preserving the valuable photographic chronicle of Tajikistan for 50 years for history. A company with a beautiful name and not only it should be responsible for this…", the artist complains.
At the moment, the wall where it was proposed to arrange a photo gallery is not there – it was broken.
