An exhibition entitled, “The thread uniting generations” in under way in the Tashkent House of Photography from 23 June to 12 July. This project backed by the Islam Karimov Foundation aims to popularize the unique folk art of silk-weaving, using the example of the creative legacy and present-day activities of the outstanding Margilan master weavers of the Mirzaakhmedov dynasty.

“I am very pleased that this top-notch event dedicated to the art of traditional silk-weaving is taking place in Tashkent,” said the chair of the Board of Trustees of the Islam Karimov Foundation, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva.

Rasul Mirzaakhmedov is one of the most brilliant and creative representatives of this dynasty, who is successfully developing the art of traditional silk-weaving.

Alongside the best examples of Margilan fabrics created in past decades, the exhibition includes archive photos of weavers at work and drawings of ornamental designs by Turgunbay Mirzaakhmedov.

Turgunbay and Rasul Mirzaakhmedov have restored the lost traditions of such unique fabrics as the Bukhara “A’lo bakhmal”, a special type of fabric used only for festive clothing. In addition, they have revived the apparently long-forgotten “olacha”, as well as “turma-belbog”, a Khorezm fabric for sashes.

Rasul Mirzaakhmedov is the author of the books, “Secrets of natural dyes” (2007) and “Technology of natural dyeing” (2015). His father, the hereditary master weaver Turgunbay Mirzaakhmedov, devoted his life to studying hand-weaving, perfecting his art and preserving centuries-old traditions. He successfully revived the production of types of silk fabric such as shoyi, bekasab, adras and banoras, which had been undeservedly forgotten.

The creative legacy and the characteristics of the technological methods and artistic quests of this famous dynasty, the hereditary abrbands, or master weavers of Margilan, is revealed for the first time in the format of an exhibition project. This event aims to promote the revival and development of Uzbek silk-weaving, enhance the social status of master folk weavers and encourage the more active advancement of the production of modern master abrbands in the domestic and international art markets.

The Islam Karimov Foundation is a charitable organization named in honour of late Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who was the founder of the independent Republic of Uzbekistan, serving as its first president from 1990 to 2016.The Karimov Foundation operates programmes both in Uzbekistan and abroad with the goal of promoting Uzbekistan’s historical, cultural and literary heritage. One of the key goals of the Foundation is to provide access to educational opportunities for young people from Uzbekistan through merit-based scholarships awarded in various academic disciplines and fields of study. The scholarships awarded enable advanced students to pursue their education at some of the best universities both in Uzbekistan and abroad.