BUKHARA: In the heart of Uzbekistan’s ancient city, where the Silk Road once carried ideas as easily as the fabric that gives it its name, Bukhara Biennial 2025 is sparking a new kind of connection.
The inaugural biennial, which runs until Nov. 20, brings together local and international artists to celebrate the city’s heritage while fostering cultural and intellectual exchange.
The event’s creative director of architecture, Wael Al-Awar, told Arab News: “What we’re talking about is what excites me most in Bukhara; I think the biennial, to me, is an instigator of connections — reconnecting Bukhara to the world; not based on tourism, but reconnecting through craft and the exchange of ideas.”
The contemporary art event is taking place across newly restored historic landmarks in the city of Bukhara, a UNESCO Creative City of Craft & Folk Art. (Supplied)
Talking about the city’s history and younger members of the population, he said: “We need to show them the value of their history, identity and craft — they don’t know it.”
