Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Zeina Klink Hoppe, curator of the British Museum for the Middle East and Asia, will take part in the I International Festival of Craftsmen in Qoqand. In an interview with Dunyo news agency, she shared her expectations of this international event:

- I look forward to my trip to Qoqand to participate in the International Festival of Craftsmen in order to feel the richness and dynamism of the crafts that will be presented at the exhibition, as well as exchange views with Uzbek masters and learn more about the art of traditional craft of the Uzbek people.

In 2018, my first trip to Uzbekistan left an indelible impression on me, giving me the opportunity to see how Uzbek artisans have preserved and continue the tradition of manufacturing high-quality items, using modern methods and new technologies.

From childhood, I was very inspired by the cities of Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva, which were historical centers of trade and culture along the Great Silk Road. For the first time I was lucky to see samples of Uzbek crafts at bazaars in Damascus, which I visited with my family. I had a pleasant opportunity to enjoy the incredible art form of Uzbek textile - ikat. Most of all, I was always surprised by the unique rainbow patterns of this fabric, which are nowhere to be found.

Especially after I started working at the British Museum, my passion for textiles and crafts from Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, continued to grow. I have always had a deep respect for the masters and artists from the countries of this region who produce unique craft items.

As a specialist in the British Museum in the field of textiles, I want to note that due to the wavy patterns and color combinations, the Uzbek ikat has endless appeal. Although textile products made in Central Asian countries occupy a modest place in the collection of the British Museum, they provide a good basis for starting the study of samples of traditional textile products, as well as methods for their manufacture in a wider context.