UNESCO photo exhibition spotlights Uzbek culture through eyes of youth
“Youth Eyes on the Silk Road” features young photographers’ work from across Asia, with Uzbekistan prominently represented in Paris.
PARIS/TASHKENT (MNTV) — A new photo exhibition at UNESCO Headquarters is offering a unique lens into the cultural richness of Silk Road regions, with young photographers from around the world — including several from Uzbekistan — showcasing their vision of heritage, tradition, and identity.
The exhibition, titled “Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads,” features 150 photographs taken by individuals under the age of 25 who live in or have traveled through countries historically linked by the ancient Silk Road.
According to Dunyo, the state-run information agency of Uzbekistan, the exhibition is part of UNESCO’s broader Silk Road Program, which aims to foster cultural dialogue and preserve historical memory across this transcontinental corridor.
Roughly 60 of the top entries have been selected for a professional photo album titled Youth Lens on the Silk Road, which will be exhibited in multiple countries over the coming months.
The current display in Paris runs until July 20 and includes striking images from both Uzbek and international participants, highlighting daily life, crafts, architecture, and rituals that define the region’s cultural mosaic.
Among the contributors are several young Uzbek photographers — including Kamila Yadgarova, Hikmatulla Olimboev, Bekhzod Boltaev, Adel Hikmatova, and Sabohat Bakhtiyarova — whose work now adorns the exterior façade of the UNESCO Secretariat building.
Their photographs, alongside images by international participants such as Andrea Van Acker, depict the tangible and intangible heritage of Uzbekistan: its historic cities, traditional ceremonies, and vibrant communities.
Located in central Paris, the exhibition is drawing the attention of the public, tourists, diplomats, and members of the international community, further amplifying Uzbekistan’s cultural visibility on a global stage.
UNESCO’s Silk Road Program promotes research, education, and cultural preservation across the vast network of historical trade routes. By elevating young voices and visual storytelling, the current exhibition serves both as a tribute to shared history and a platform for future cultural exchange.
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