research approach​

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Project Illiaz emerged from the search to reconnect with a cultural past that has been shaped by centuries of turbulence, war, and shifting borders in the Caucasus. The erasure and displacement of Chechen cultural artifacts, folklore, and oral histories have made the preservation and reconstruction of these traditions an urgent task. Without tangible records, much of this heritage risks fading into obscurity.

This project is an archive of applied arts and folklore from the North Caucasus, as well as a visual research initiative on the heritage and origin of the Nakh peoples. Drawing from Aleida Assmann’s framework of cultural memory and archives, Project Illiaz employs archival research, artistic reconstruction, and cultural analysis to document and revitalize these expressions of identity.

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methodology & artistic practice

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By combining historical research with contemporary artistic methodologies, Project Illiaz seeks to:

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• Preserve endangered traditions through visual documentation and artistic reinterpretation.

• Reconstruct fragmented elements of Nakh cultural history, ensuring their visibility and continuity.

• Contextualize these traditions within a broader historical and artistic discourse, positioning Chechen heritage within global narratives of cultural memory.