Silk Road Exhibition

The “Roza Otunbayeva Initiative” IPF and Felt World PF held an interactive exhibition of Silk Road at the Museum of Fine Arts (named after G. Aitiev) on April 5-28, 2019. Exhibition visitors used interactive methods to learn about the countries of the Great Silk Road, the modern status of the ancient cities, and the new roads uniting those cities and countries. The event helped strengthen mutual respect, friendship, trade cooperation, and tourism among people and nations. Kyrgyzstan is a country along the Silk Road. According to historical information, caravans loaded with goods passed through Osh, Ozgon, Balasagyn, Suyab, Barskan, At-Bashi, Ton, and other cities of Kyrgyzstan. It is very important that children learn firsthand about the geography, culture, traditions and customs of the people of Kyrgyzstan and the neighboring countries. They should not be limited to textbooks only. The knowledge they received, having seen with their own eyes and touched with their hands, will be remembered by them forever. At the exhibition, visitors were able to get basic information about the countries along the Silk Road, including information about: biodiversity, water resources, minerals, culture, ethnic groups, traditional clothes, children's games, songs, and dances. Representatives from the embassies of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Mongolia, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, and Afghanistan took part in the exhibition. Each participating country presented a cultural program as part of their national day. Programs included lectures country's historical sites, taken place in the museum’s lecture hall, as well as video trips around the country. Music presentations, fashion shows and more were also organized. Visitors were able to study in detail the different varieties and types of goods that were transported along the Silk Road: silk, tea, spices, and rice. Additionally, they could participate in workshops. Special interactive platforms were also arranged, where each participant could do a large geographic felt puzzle map. There were different workshops at the exhibition. On the day dedicated to China, a calligraphy workshop was held. On the day Japan’s day a tea ceremony and origami workshops took place. On the day dedicated to Kyrgyzstan, felt making process was demonstrated and various handicrafts were manufactured from felt. And, on the day dedicated to Iran, a workshop on making traditional Iranian dolls was held. There were also days dedicated to children's literature, oriental poetry, environmental education, and snow leopards. As part of the Stars reading for Children campaign, famous writers from Kyrgyzstan, as well as the ambassadors to the Kyrgyz Republic read traditional fairy tales to children.