The Art of Uzbekistan - Heart of the Silk Road
15 October 2025 at 10:00:00
Winston Churchill Hall, Ruislip
Tilework detailing handicrafts of Uzbekistan
Traditional artisans continue to work metal, ceramics, wood and fabrics in the fertile Fergana Valley of central Asia, as they have done for thousands of years. Their beautiful creations, such as the vibrant silk 'ikat' dresses, are still worn by women on special family occasions.
Centrally located along the Silk Road, Uzbekistan has produced amazing art under rulers as diverse as Alexander the Great, the Ancient Persians and the Soviets. Famous UNESCO cities include Bukhara and Khiva - but if any place encapsulates this multi-culturalism then it is Samarkand, capital of Timur, known in the West as Tamerlane. His architects and craftsmen created monumental structures decorated with lustrous tiles that still gleam brightly today.
Join us for this fascinating talk, as Chris Bradley highlights the exotic ambiance, vivid histories, impressive architecture and network of trade routes, all of which have left a profound impact on the modern world.
Christopher Bradley is an expert in the history and culture of the Middle East and North Africa. As a professional tour guide and lecturer he has led groups throughout the Middle East and Asia. He writes extensively on Arabia and is the author of the Insight Guide to the Silk Road and Berlitz Guides to Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Nile Cruising, Libya, the Red Sea, Oman and the Discovery Guide to Yemen.
As a photographer Chris has pictures represented by several photographic libraries. As a film producer and cameraman he has made documentaries for the BBC, National Geographic TV and Channel 4.
Christopher Bradley