Silk Oasis on the Silk Road: Bukhara features a collection of Central Asian ikats and embroidered silks — coats, veils, wall hangings and coverlets from the Textile Museum’s permanent collection — to visualize the Bukhara region’s rich textile history and place it within the diverse cultural traditions of Asia.

Curated by Natalia Nekrassova, the exhibition traces the rise of the oasis town, Bukhara into the largest silk producer of Central Asia during the “Silk Age” of the 19th century. On display for a short time, the exquisitely crafted textiles in the exhibition are vibrant examples of the Bukhara region’s iconic textiles – hand-dyed silk ikats and hand-embroidered wall hangings known as suzani, many of which, Nekrassova says “have never been shown in the Museum’s galleries.”

Central Asian silks are a significant part of the Museum’s collection which covers over 200 regions and over 2,000 years of history. Vibrant and beautifully created, the textiles on display in Silk Oasis on the Silk Road: Bukhara create a visual presentation of Bukhara’s rich textile history and speak to the influence of the region in facilitating cultural, economic and technological exchange. Silk Oasis on the Silk Road: Bukhara closes September 25, 2011.

The Highlights from the Exhibition

image Hanging (suzani), Mid 19th century, Bukhara, Gift of Horst Dantz and Donald Quick / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

image Coat (yaktak), late 19th century, Bukhara, From the Opekar / Webster Collection / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

image Silk Oasis on the Silk Road, 2011, Installation shot. Photo: Jill Kitchener / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

image Silk Oasis on the Silk Road, 2011, Installation shot. Photo: Jill Kitchener / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

image Silk Oasis on the Silk Road, 2011, Installation shot. Photo: Jill Kitchener / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

image Silk Oasis on the Silk Road, 2011, Installation shot. Photo: Jill Kitchener / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

image Silk Oasis on the Silk Road, 2011, Installation shot. Photo: Jill Kitchener / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

image Silk Oasis on the Silk Road, 2011, Installation shot. Photo: Jill Kitchener / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

image Silk Oasis on the Silk Road, 2011, Installation shot. Photo: Jill Kitchener / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

image Silk Oasis on the Silk Road, 2011, Installation shot. Photo: Jill Kitchener / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

image Silk Oasis on the Silk Road, 2011, Installation shot. Photo: Jill Kitchener / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

image Silk Oasis on the Silk Road, 2011, Installation shot. Photo: Jill Kitchener / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

image Silk Oasis on the Silk Road, 2011, Installation shot. Photo: Jill Kitchener / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

image Silk Oasis on the Silk Road, 2011, Installation shot. Photo: Jill Kitchener / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

image Silk Oasis on the Silk Road, 2011, Installation shot. Photo: Jill Kitchener / Courtesy of the Textile Museum of Canada

The Textile Museum of Canada

The Textile Museum of Canada is one of Toronto’s most engaging visual arts organizations. With more than 12,000 objects from more than 200 countries and regions, the TMC’s permanent collection celebrates cultural diversity and includes traditional fabrics, garments, carpets and related artifacts such as beadwork and basketry. The Museum offers a broad variety of exhibitions including themed shows based on our permanent collection and contemporary exhibitions of the work of Canadian and international artists.

 


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