Selbi Jumayeva
area: Transdisciplinary researcher, curator and artist
Key Facts
nationality
Turkmenistanarea
Transdisciplinary researcher, curator and artistresidence
Ashgabatrecommending institution
BMEIAtime period
January 2026 - February 2026Selbi Jumayeva (Ashgabat, 1986) is a transdisciplinary researcher, curator and artist, using documentary photography, ethnography, and applied ecology. Her research focuses on desert futures, socio-ecological systems, and planetary boundaries. Currently, Jumayeva is designing cultural and natural heritage programs for environmental, biodiversity conservation, and climate adaptation work in Turkmenistan. Previously, she directed environment and society strategy at Artcom Platform in Kazakhstan.
As a Central Asian expert, Selbi Jumayeva has 25 years of experience in strengthening regional civil society, leading and resourcing grassroots initiatives, and advising international organizations. As a curator and artist, Jumayeva explores multispecies relations and traditional ecological knowledge(s), preserves her Yomud tribal kinship’s narratives and artifacts, and documents Central Asian quotidien and Turkmen intellectual history.
She weaves her learnings and ideas of transboundary boundary objects and planetary human entanglements into ongoing collaborative projects such as “Dusts (The Terraforming 2021)” and “Steppe Synanthropies: Extant Across Borders (Climate Dignity 2025)”.
During her residency at MQ Selbi Jumayeva works on her project “Steppe Synanthropies: Data Tapestry”. This project continues to explore experiences of interconnectedness and embeddedness of local and intimate ecosystems within planetary processes. The aim is to raise awareness about the importance of efforts to protect critically endangered species while honoring narratives of losing and loss through artistic expression and scientific inquiry.
At the same time, the project follows the mission of the collaborative work “Steppe Synanthropies: Extant Across Continents”, which illuminates co-existence of migratory bird species, scientists, and pastoralists on the African-Eurasian Flyway. “Data Tapestry” employs the traditional Turkmen art and technique of jewelry, embroidery and patchwork to create elaborate and intricate textile pieces which cover, shelter, protect, and adorn humans and domesticated animals. Such crafted mobile and functional wear and tech are adaptive necessities developed from transhumance experiences of life in Central Asia’s harsh environments and extreme weather. These beautifully designed and assembled tapestries are stitched together, embroidered, and decorated with dense data artifacts recording and celebrating everyday realities, livelihoods, and life ways.
“Steppe Synanthropies: Data Tapestry” builds on the ground truth established in Extant Across Continents to tell the story of local biodiversity conservation scientists who are often invisible but always on the frontlines of environmental stewardship.