Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 23 February, a media event “Cultural heritage as a bridge between Italy and Uzbekistan” took place. 

As part of the event, a presentation of the new book-album “Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in Italian Collections” took place. The event was organized by the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Promotion of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan (WOSCU) and the Embassy of the Italian Republic in Uzbekistan.

The book-album “Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in Italian Collections” is the result of several years of research and cooperation of the World Society with scientific institutions of the Italian Republic. The invited guest of the event was Francesca Fiorentino, art historian, volume curator, and independent researcher from Italy.

The delegation led by the Chairman of the Board of the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Popularization of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan, Dr. Firdavs Abdukhalikov, made several research trips to the Italian Republic, artifacts and historical objects of the cultural heritage of our country stored in Italian museums were studied.

Along with the publication of the book, a documentary film “The Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in the Collections of Italy” was prepared.

“The most important area of relations between Uzbekistan and Italy are cultural and humanitarian ties, since Italy was the birthplace of the Renaissance in Europe, and Uzbekistan, Maverannahr, is the home of the first and second stages of the Eastern Renaissance period. The great Hegel has a saying: “Renaissance begins in the East.” Today’s event, hosted by the World Society, is another manifestation of mutual cultural ties. The work carried out to study and preserve our cultural heritage, widespread throughout the world, on the initiative of the World Society organized in France, deserves high praise. The books published by the World Society are written by eminent scientists and orientalists of the world. These books can be considered as a unique scientific work that conveys to the modern reader our cultural heritage of the first and second stages of the Eastern Renaissance. More than 20 scientists who are not indifferent to the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan took part in the publication of the book-album “Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in Italian Collections,” noted Akmal Saidov, First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Chairman of the Editorial Board of the project “Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in meetings of the world."

“Today, cooperation between Italy and Uzbekistan in various fields is expanding. Diplomatic relations between the two countries are developing every day. Last June, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Italy, and in November the President of Italy Sergio Mattarella visited Tashkent, Samarkand and Khiva. These visits open new pages of mutual cooperation between the two countries. This is an important step for historical, cultural, economic, and mutual political relations. Uzbekistan has a very rich cultural heritage. We have always been fascinated by many objects of the history of Uzbekistan stored in Italy. I can say with satisfaction that next year, in collaboration with the World Society, a new book-album will be created,” said Agostino Pinna, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic to Uzbekistan.

At the event, a special ceremony was held to present certificates for receiving book-albums of the series “Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in the World’s Collections” published by the World Society, as well as a series of book-albums “Architectural Epigraphy of Uzbekistan”. Book-albums were presented to representatives of diplomatic missions, embassies and international organizations in Uzbekistan.

“Issues of studying and preserving the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan have risen to the level of state policy in New Uzbekistan. The country opened up to the world, which resulted in the implementation of numerous cultural and scientific projects together with foreign countries. A reliable platform has been created that has formed a global community of scientists researching the history and culture of Uzbekistan. Our relations have reached a new stage of development in the study and implementation of cinema, modern media, the rich cultural heritage and history of our country. All these achievements are the result of the great attention of the head of our state Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the field of culture and spirituality,” noted the Chairman of the Board of the World Society, Dr. Firdavs Abdukhalikov.

During the event, joint projects that were the result of cooperation between Italian and Uzbek filmmakers were also presented. Among them are the film project “Revelations of Marco Polo” and “Khoja Nasreddin”.

“In 2022, our television company V&Co made a documentary about Marco Polo, about his amazing journey from Italy to Asia through the territory of Uzbekistan. This was our first experience of an international project together with the Cinematography Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Associazione Circles Squared (Italy). This experience inspired us to create a new project about Khoja Nasreddin together with the Uzbekistan Cinematography Agency. This will be a very unusual film with actors and puppets from the Italian puppet theater Carlo Colla & Figli., the oldest Milanese puppet troupe,” said Alena Mikhailova, producer of the V&CO television company.

“Cultural heritage is of great importance in the history of mankind. Unfortunately, in many cases this heritage is neglected. In some countries, effective efforts are not made to preserve historical manuscripts, study or preserve architectural monuments, and historical heritage is disappearing. Unfortunately, these projects do not receive sufficient funding. These jobs are considered a secondary level field.

The work carried out by Uzbekistan to study and popularize cultural heritage deserves special recognition. And the work done by WOSCU is very valuable. I highly appreciate the responsibility that WOSCU has taken on, the projects it carries out and such significant work as publishing priceless books on Uzbek cultural heritage and holding exhibitions. On behalf of UNESCO, I express my deep gratitude to the World Society,” emphasized the Head of UNESCO in Uzbekistan, Sarah Noshadi.

The general sponsor of the project “Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in the Collections of the World” is the oil service company Eriell Group.

The World Society for the Study, Preservation and Popularization of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan (WOSCU) was founded in 2018 on the initiative of more than 300 orientalists from around the world, officially registered in Paris in 2019, and also opened its representative office in Tashkent in 2023.

Today, WOSCU unites more than 450 scientists and annually, with the support of state, public and international organizations, socially responsible businesses, publishes book-albums in the “Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in the Collections of the World” series, as well as holds cultural events and media events.