The Fabric of Dreams – Art and crafts from Uzbekistan

The visual arts have produced unique varieties and genres that enrich the world of art. Come and acquaint yourself with a selection of magnificent Suzanis juxtaposed with masterpieces by Uzbek artists in the Fabric of Dreams exhibition. The selected works will feel familiar to European eyes, but bring a uniquely Uzbek flair. Discover paintings that reflect the lived experience, unique landscapes, and Zeitgeist of Uzbek contemporaries. And let yourself be surprised – the works may echo European masterpieces, notwithstanding cultural, geographical, and historical differences.

When immersing yourself in the exhibition, it becomes clear on the one hand how many points of contact there are between German and Uzbek societies. At the same time, the pictures give insight into the history of Uzbekistan, its development during the Soviet era and its modern beginnings. Also, one can see impressive parallels between the artistic and cultural development in Germany and Europe. The exhibited artists are representatives of a multinational, multicultural society. Bakhodir Jalal strives for self-knowledge and for the understanding of the harmony between people and the universe in his artistic approach. His paintings unfold like fantasy stories that reveal to man his place in this vast, spinning cosmos. Akmal Nur, in turn, dissects love: rich colors and delicate tenderness fill every brushstroke of his luminous paintings.

These works are contrasted with the magnificent suzanis – embroidered blankets and wall hangings – that honor the noble craft of Uzbek embroidery. The exhibition focuses on the special connection that suzanis create between women of different generations: on the one hand, suzanis are part of the dowry of girls in Uzbekistan, and on the other hand, their making is an explicitly female tradition. The motifs of the suzanis stand for joy, fertility, long life, prosperity, good health and hospitality to the house, but are also supposed to ward off the evil eye from the house and the family.

“With this exhibition, we want to not only show modern works, but also honor the great master of the past who have inspired the artists of the here and now. Uzbek artists, firmly rooted in their centuries-old heritage, and with the symbolic motifs of folk art in their souls, will create many more astonishing works long into the future.”

 – Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan