Doha: Qatar Museums (QM) is set to unveil "Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion," a significant exhibition organized by the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in collaboration with the Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) of Uzbekistan. The exhibition will be on display at MIA's Sheikh Saoud Al Thani Temporary Exhibitions Gallery from September 3 to November 28, 2026.
According to Qatar News Agency, "Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion" will explore over 1,000 years of Uzbekistan's artistic and cultural history, from the eighth century CE to the present day. The exhibition will feature 146 objects, including a monumental painting, Timurid architectural fragments, scientific manuscripts, ceramics, jewelry, and textiles from the collections of MIA, the National Collection of Qatar, Lusail Museum, Qatar National Library, and 13 institutions across Uzbekistan. This includes contributions from notable institutions like the Afrasiab Museum in Samarkand and the Margilan Crafts Development Center. Curated by Anastasiya Silkatcheva, Uzbekistan-born MIA curator, the exhibition seeks to highlight how Uzbekistan's Islamic-era traditions continue to influence contemporary art, architecture, and craft.
Shaika Al-Nassr, Director of the Museum of Islamic Art, expressed enthusiasm about the exhibition, stating, "At MIA in Doha, we are in the uniquely privileged position of celebrating the world's Islamic art, culture, and heritage with a global audience. Alongside our colleagues from the ACDF, we are thrilled to present this exhibition that showcases Uzbekistan's cultural contribution not only to the Islamic world but also to our shared human heritage."
Anastasiya Silkatcheva added, "Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion presents the most comprehensive overview of Uzbekistan's heritage in thirty years. The exhibition asks visitors to see Uzbekistan not as a country frozen in its monuments, but as one in constant dialogue with them."
The exhibition is organized into four sections: Beyond the River, Building Earth and Empire, Architects of Thought and Image, and Legacies of Clay and Thread. It portrays Uzbekistan as a crossroads of civilizations where historical traditions remain deeply embedded in contemporary life.
Highlights of the exhibition include a seventh-century wall painting from the Ambassadors' Hall at Afrasiab and interactive activities demonstrating architectural decoration in brick. There will also be an immersive experience evoking a mausoleum, a presentation on the restoration of Samarkand's Bibi Khanym Mosque, and manuscripts of astronomical, medical, and religious texts. Additionally, textiles and works on paper by modern Uzbek artists will be showcased.
The exhibition aims to strengthen the growing institutional relationship between Qatar Museums and ACDF, building on an existing partnership that includes conservation, research, and public programming. The public opening of the exhibition will coincide with Qatar Museums' fall 2026 season, reinforcing Doha's role as a global cultural hub.