The colors, textiles, patterns and mosaic tile designs exceeded any expectation I might have had for what I would see in Uzbekistan last summer.  The instagram photos and travel newsletters can’t begin to communicate the wonderful design and architecture in this Central Asia country on the Silk Road.

The Silk Road is the name given to the routes that traders took to move goods from Europe to Asia, some say as far away as Japan. It all ended when sea routes were discovered. But in the time that the overland trading was the only way , this area was a major crossroads of culture and transfer goods between the east and the west.

According to National Geographic, “The term  refers to a network of routes used by traders for more than 1,500 years, from when the Han dynasty of China opened trade in 130 B.C.E. until 1453 C.E., when the Ottoman Empire closed off trade with the West.”

I visited this amazing part of the world on a Photography Tour.

The Islamic structures reveal a fascination with the color blue. In the Islamic tradition blue signifies the depths of the Universe. Turquoise is thought to have mystical qualities.

The tile designs are centered around the Islamic art principles with geometric patterns dominating.

I was also really drawn to the fabrics and textiles, many in market stalls for tourists but sometimes on women modeling in historic places or on the streets. This part of the world is  known for a IKAT dying technique that uses bright colors and bold patterns.

The legend is that the stunning colors and mezmerizing overlap of patterns found on it were inspired by a heavenly rainbow reflected in a pond. Struck by the beauty a weaver carried the idea back to his workshop and created a woven fabric to mimic what he saw.

The first photo below are dolls sold in a market place dressed in garments mimicking the traditional pattern and dye technique.

One of the really fun experiences for me was to attend a fashion show that combined both traditional dance/costumes  and wonderful clothing based on traditional designs. I would have loved to have shopped at  the store who put on the show but time and the amount of space in my suitcases were  limiting factors.

I was interested in other kinds of decorative arts–ceramics,  interiors, rugs. The designs with the strong colors and patterns seem to be the same or similar to the themes in the fabrics. What a lovely tradition.

The trip was organized through Fantastic Photo tours.  I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Uzekistan. I’d go back, especially if I could focus on the arts. Stay tuned for more about my experience in Central Asia in future blog posts.    https://fantasticphototours.com