Qatar Museums will open “Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion” at the Museum of Islamic Art on September 3, presenting more than 1,000 years of Uzbekistan’s artistic and cultural heritage through objects, manuscripts, textiles and immersive experiences.
The exhibition, organised by the Museum of Islamic Art in partnership with Uzbekistan’s Art and Culture Development Foundation, will run until November 28, 2026, at MIA’s Sheikh Saoud Al Thani Temporary Exhibitions Gallery.
146 objects spanning centuries of history
The exhibition will bring together 146 objects dating from the eighth century CE to the present day.
The collection includes a monumental wall painting, Timurid architectural fragments, scientific manuscripts, ceramics, jewellery, textiles and other works drawn from institutions in Qatar and Uzbekistan.
Objects are being sourced from the Museum of Islamic Art, National Collection of Qatar, Lusail Museum, Qatar National Library and 13 institutions across Uzbekistan.
The exhibition is curated by Uzbekistan-born MIA curator Anastasiya Silkatcheva.
From Samarkand archaeology to Islamic science
One of the exhibition’s highlights is a seventh-century wall painting from the Ambassadors’ Hall at Afrasiab in Samarkand, displayed alongside a Sogdian silk jacket from MIA’s collection featuring similar motifs.
Visitors will also encounter manuscripts covering astronomy, medicine and religion, together with a 15th-century astrolabe reflecting the legacy of scholars including al-Khwarizmi, al-Biruni and Ulugh Beg.
Another section will explore the architectural heritage of Central Asia through interactive activities demonstrating traditional brick decoration techniques.
Qatar-backed restoration of Bibi Khanym Mosque featured
The exhibition will also highlight the Qatari-supported restoration of Samarkand’s Bibi Khanym Mosque, showcasing efforts to preserve one of Uzbekistan’s significant Islamic architectural landmarks.
An immersive installation evoking a mausoleum will feature a cenotaph from Khiva alongside a video-based experience designed to bring the object’s history to life.
Textiles and craft traditions continue into the present
Uzbekistan’s long-standing textile traditions will form another major part of the exhibition.
Historic ikat-woven robes and modern silk will be displayed alongside a functioning silk loom from the Museum of Applied Arts in Tashkent and video footage showing contemporary silk weaving.
Works by Uzbek miniaturist Davlat Toshev will also be displayed alongside illustrated 16th-century folios, while garments by designer Madina Kasimbaeva will showcase the continued revival of traditional suzani embroidery.
Exploring heritage as a living tradition
Organised across four sections — Beyond the River, Building Earth and Empire, Architects of Thought and Image, and Legacies of Clay and Thread — the exhibition presents Uzbekistan as a crossroads of civilisations where historical traditions continue to influence contemporary art and culture.
Museum of Islamic Art Director Shaika Al-Nassr said the exhibition reflects the cultural contribution of Uzbekistan to both the Islamic world and wider human heritage.
Silkatcheva described the exhibition as one of the most comprehensive presentations of Uzbekistan’s heritage in three decades, highlighting how traditions continue to be reinterpreted and reshaped by new generations.
The exhibition also strengthens the growing partnership between Qatar Museums and Uzbekistan’s Art and Culture Development Foundation across conservation, research and public programming.
“Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion” opens on September 3 and will remain on view until November 28, 2026, as part of Qatar Museums’ fall cultural season.
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