English
Chinese
Turkish
Tajik
Kyrgyz
Turkmen
Japanese
Arabic
English
French
Spanish
Русский
German
Ўзбек
Oʻzbek
Қазақ
17 exhibits from Uzbekistan in Jeddah Biennale
11:27 / 2023-01-25

Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah will host the First Islamic Arts Biennale from January 23 to April 23, 2023, which will feature 17 exhibits from Uzbekistan.

The Biennale is organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia. The event aims at connecting the past, present and future, and its main theme will be “Awwal Bait”, which means “First House” in Arabic. Awwal Bait is a term that comes from the Quran. It is used to refer to the most sacred place for Muslims – the Kaaba in Mecca.

According to the organizers, the event will promote innovations while supporting the preservation of traditions. 

Uzbekistan’s historical heritage at the Biennale is presented by the Art and Culture Development Foundation of the country. The exhibition features 17 exhibits reflecting Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage. Among them are several pages of the Kattalangar Quran of the 8th century, one of the most important manuscripts of the Islamic world, a collection of hadiths “Imam al-Bukhari’s Al-Jami 'as-Sahih” of the 17th century, ceramic jugs and bowls from Samarkand and Afrasiab of the 10th-12th centuries, national clothes and shoes, and others.

A special place in this exposition is occupied by the Kattalangar Quran. Two of the 13 pages recently restored by the Louvre experts are now on display for the first time in this museum in an exhibition organized by the Art and Culture Development Foundation.

The Islamic Arts Biennale features four pages of the Quran, two of which are exhibited for the first time. As Gayane Umerova, Executive Director of the Art and Culture Development Foundation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, explained, the Islamic Arts Biennale is an important international event that allows showcasing of projects related to Islamic culture. Uzbekistan has a rich and multifaceted history, most of which is closely connected with the traditions of Islam, and the selection of exhibits presented by Uzbekistan is designed to interest the world community in their study. 

As part of the Biennale, the Foundation also organized an extensive public program aimed at familiarizing participants and visitors with Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage. It includes discussions, musical performances, film screenings and workshops. “The Minaret of Death” silent film (1924) accompanied by traditional musical instruments, and the “Al-Bukhari” film (1998) will also be shown. Masterclasses in ceramics and suzane and much more will be organized.

The Art and Culture Development Foundation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan was established by the Presidential Resolution. The Foundation’s projects cover several areas: art, literature, theatre, music, architecture, choreography, cinema. Applying an interdisciplinary approach and bringing together specialists from different countries, the Foundation promotes the development of cultural diplomacy in the CIS, Europe and Asia.

UzA