TURKISH ART SCHOLARS AT THE CENTER OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION IN UZBEKISTAN

In different periods of our country's history, world-class civilizations, large empires, cities worthy of admiration, and priceless architectural monuments have emerged. In particular, the unique cultural heritage created by our great ancestors has left an indelible mark on the history of mankind. The scientific, historical, and artistic works that have come down to us from them are today stored in various parts of the world, in foreign collections, funds, libraries, and museums. Many ministries and departments, including the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan under the Cabinet of Ministers, are carrying out extensive work to study this rich and priceless cultural heritage.

Photographs of the history, culture, people, and historical monuments of our country since the 19th century are stored in the funds of the Kunstkamera Museum, located in St. Petersburg, Russia. This was emphasized by the organizers of the exhibition "Uzbekistan in the 19th century (Photographs by V. Orden from the Kunstkamera collection)", held in the Tashkent House of Photography in our capital, during a visit to the Center of Islamic Civilization of Uzbekistan by famous Turkish scientists - Professor of the Technical University Yildiz Ayse Melek Ozetgin and Professor of the University of Ankara Ayse Ersay Yuksel.

“We came to this country, the heart of Turkestan culture, for a very important reason. We organized a very large exhibition at the Tashkent House of Photography with the support of our ambassador to Uzbekistan. We published a book-album called “Uzbekistan in the 19th century (Photographs of the Order of the Order of V. from the Kunstkamera Museum)”. For this book, we selected Uzbek photographs from the collection of the Kunstkamera, one of the oldest imperial museums in Russia. For the first time, we published 114 photographs taken in Uzbekistan in the 19th century in this book,” said Professor Ayşe Melek Özetgin of Yildiz Technical University.

They can provide valuable information about the social, cultural, economic, and historical life of Uzbekistan.

The French photographer V. Orden carried out his activities in Central Asia in the 19th century. He traveled to Turkestan, Iran, and the Caucasus. It is interesting that Orden visited the palaces of the Uzbek khans and had the honor of taking several photographs there. He visited such cities of Uzbekistan as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Kokand, Tashkent, Margilan, Andijan, Fergana, and precisely captured the life of our people, their way of life, household items, clothing, historical monuments, mosques, and madrassas.

V. Orden was in Istanbul before arriving in Uzbekistan and presented Sultan Abdulhamid with photographs taken in the Turkestan region. Because the pictures serve as a bridge in the Sultan's worldview and knowledge of the world. In his palace, he collected about 38,000 photographs from more than 50 countries.

These photographs can open the door to discoveries and information that are inaccessible to the general public in many areas.

Turkish scientists visited the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan and got acquainted with the employees of the center and the projects they are implementing. Deputy Director of the Center of Islamic Civilization F. Khalimov said that this center is a mega-project implemented directly on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and that it is planned to create all the conditions for the study and promotion of civilizations that arose on the land of Uzbekistan and the legacy of great scientists who came from this land.

"Our esteemed President emphasized that the doors of this center are open to all foreign scientists and researchers studying the history, culture, and rich cultural heritage of Uzbekistan. Therefore, all foreign colleagues who want to cooperate with us, including you, are ready to work together and implement joint projects," said F. Khalimov.

The Turkish guests got acquainted with the building of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, which is being built in Tashkent. Noting that such a large project is also a big event for the Turkic world, they spoke in favor of presenting projects that will show the place of Uzbekistan in Islamic civilization.

The guests expressed their readiness for close cooperation with the Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan in the future. It was decided to create the Center of Islamic Civilization Foundation and jointly implement projects related to photography, using their experience.