Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- From 23 January to 23 April 2023, the first Biennial of Islamic Art will be held in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), which will feature 17 exhibits from Uzbekistan.

The Biennale was organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia. The purpose of the event is to "connect the past, present and future", and its main theme will be "Awwal Bait", which means "first home" in Arabic. Awwal Bayt is a term that comes from the Koran, it is used to refer to the most sacred place for Muslims - the Kaaba in Mecca.

According to the organizers, the event will promote innovation while supporting the preservation of traditions. It will present explorations of spirituality in the aesthetic field, in all its variety of artistic expressions and forms.

The historical heritage of Uzbekistan at the Biennale will be presented by Art and Culture Development Foundation.

“It is a great honor for us to present a selection of priceless exhibits from Uzbekistan at the Biennale of Islamic Art. An important task of the Foundation is to disseminate and demonstrate the rich heritage of our country to an international audience, as well as to establish strong international cooperation. Participation in the Biennale is a good opportunity for its implementation,” said Saida Mirziyoyeva, Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Art and Culture Development Foundation.

The exhibition in Jeddah will feature 17 exhibits reflecting the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan. Among them are several pages of the Kattalangar Koran of the 8th century, one of the most important manuscripts of the Islamic world, a collection of hadiths "Al-Jome as-Sahih of Imam al-Bukhari" of the 17th century, ceramic jugs and bowls from Samarkand and Afrasiab of the 10th-12th centuries, national clothes and shoes and others.

As Gayane Umerova, executive director of the Art and Culture Development Foundation, explained, the biennale of Islamic art is an important international event that allows you to showcase projects related to Islamic culture. Uzbekistan has a rich and multifaceted history, most of which is closely connected with the traditions of Islam, and the selection of exhibits presented by our country is designed to interest the world community in their study.

As part of the Biennale, the Foundation plans to organize an extensive public program aimed at familiarizing viewers with the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan. It includes discussions, musical performances, film screenings and workshops. The silent film "The Minaret of Death" (1924) accompanied by traditional musical instruments, the film "Al-Bukhari" (1998) will also be shown, master classes in ceramics and suzane and much more will be organized.