The exhibition " The Splendours of Uzbekistan’ Oases. At the crossroads of caravan routes" opened at the Louvre on Wednesday 23 November. The opening was timed to coincide with the visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to France.
“This exhibition takes visitors on a fascinating journey to the crossroads of civilisations, in the heart of Central Asia, in Uzbekistan, where Samarkand and Bukhara are household names. But many other trading posts in the region brought to light works of art that are now listed as objects of world heritage" – as mentioned on the official website of the Louvre Museum.
“Genghis Khan, Tamburlaine, Marco Polo – these legendary names live on in our imaginations. Yet Uzbekistan, an intellectual, cultural and artistic centre at the crossroads of India, China and Iran, remains almost unknown with over 170 works, including Uzbek national treasures never before exhibited in the West, and loans from great European and American museums, this unprecedented exploration promises its visitors a few culture shocks as well as moments of sheer wonderment" – also quoted from the description of "The Splendours of Uzbekistan’ Oases" on the Louvre Museum’s website.
Remarkable loans from Uzbekistan, from major European and American museums, presented at the exhibition bring together nearly 180 works and invites visitors to an incredible journey through the history of civilizations, particularly Central Asia and Uzbekistan.
The exhibits displayed at the exhibition include monumental wall paintings from the Ambassadors’ Hall in Samarkand and its surroundings, the pages of one of the oldest monumental Korans from the early days of Islam from Katta Langar, in Sogdiana, and other treasures in gold from Bactria (Dalverzin Tepe), silver, silk, and fine ceramics. The exhibition also showcases several masterpieces from the famous 16th century miniature paintings of the School of Bukhara.
The exposition was organized in accordance with the agreement signed between France and Uzbekistan in 2018. French leader Emmanuel Macron and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who, according to Agence France-Presse, arrived at the Louvre with their spouses, were already able to evaluate the results of the work of specialists on Tuesday.
The "The Splendours of Uzbekistan’ Oases" aroused great interest among the European public, creating long queues lined up at the museum to see the exhibits reflecting the history and culture of Uzbekistan.
The "Treasures of the Oases of Uzbekistan. At the crossroads of caravan routes" will last until March 2023 and is expected to receive 20,000 visitors daily. This will make a great contribution to the popularization of Uzbekistan not only among the French audience but also throughout the world, attracting more tourists to visit Uzbekistan in the future.
