Doha to Showcase Uzbek Heritage Exhibition in September

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The exhibition "Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion," dedicated to over a millennium of Uzbekistan's artistic and cultural history, will open in Doha on 3 September 2026. The exposition will run through 28 November 2026 at the Sheikh Saoud Al Thani Temporary Exhibitions Gallery within the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar.

The exhibition is organized by Qatar Museums in partnership with the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan. The showcase features 146 items drawn from the collections of the Museum of Islamic Art, the National Collection of Qatar, the Lusail Museum, the Qatar National Library, and 13 institutions across Uzbekistan.

Spanning from the 8th century AD to the contemporary era, the display illustrates the evolution of the country's artistic and cultural traditions. Particular emphasis is placed on how the legacy of the Islamic era continues to resonate in Uzbekistan's modern architecture, art, and traditional crafts.

Key exhibits include a 7th-century wall painting from the Hall of the Ambassadors in Afrasiab, Timurid architectural fragments, scientific manuscripts, ceramics, jewelry, and textiles. Visitors will also view manuscripts on astronomy, medicine, and religion, a 15th-century astrolabe, and materials related to the scientific achievements of al-Khwarizmi, al-Biruni, and Ulugh Beg.

A significant section of the exhibition focuses on sericulture and traditional crafts, showcasing early ikat robes, modern silk fabrics, and a functioning loom from the Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan. The contemporary aspect of the showcase is complemented by works from miniaturist Davlat Toshev and designer Madina Kasimbaeva, known for reviving the Tashkent school of suzani embroidery.

The exposition is structured into four thematic sections: "Beyond the River," "Building Earth and Empire," "Architects of Thought and Image," and "Legacies of Clay and Thread". These sections frame Uzbekistan as a crossroads of civilizations where historical traditions endure in contemporary culture.

A dedicated section highlights the restoration of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand, which was conducted with support from Qatar. Visitors will also encounter interactive elements focused on architectural decoration and traditional construction techniques of Islamic Central Asia.

Shaika Al-Nassr, Director of the Museum of Islamic Art, stated that the exhibition highlights Uzbekistan's contribution to both Islamic culture and broader global heritage.

According to exhibition curator Anastasiya Silkatcheva, the display represents the most comprehensive overview of Uzbekistan's heritage in the past 30 years. She noted that the organizers sought to present the country not merely through historical monuments, but as a culture actively engaging with and reinterpreting its past.

The opening forms part of Qatar Museums' autumn 2026 program. The initiative advances ongoing cooperation between Qatar Museums and the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan in heritage preservation, research, and cultural programming.