Description
The Reinaissance of Uzbek Silk / Album / Tashkent 2017 / San'at / silk weaving tradition / Ikat techniques
Islam Karimov Foundation
Hardcover / Album with a special USB drive supplement
ISBN 9789943388925 / 978-9943388925
Pages 102
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
Printed in Turkey for Uzbekistan
Publisher: "San'at" 2017
LBC 37.234
UDC 677.021.153.7
“The Renaissance of Uzbek Silk” – published in four languages (Uzbek, Russian, English and French) – tells the story of silk from its origins right up to the classic Uzbek Ikat produced today.
The book was published by the Karimov Foundation in collaboration with Uzbekistan’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in four languages - Uzbek, Russian, English and French. We are selling the ENGLISH ONLY Edition!
This new publication traces the history of silk manufacture in Uzbekistan from its mythical beginnings right up to the magnificent innovations of today’s skilled master weavers and designers, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva said on her social pages.
The reader is taken on a journey of discovery, starting with the birth of a silk worm through the careful spinning of the threads which are then taken to the abrband’s workshop where the complex process of dyeing begins. The book explores the virtues of natural dyes and their origin, as well as giving us a glimpse into the fabulous, intricate patterns so characteristic of Uzbek fabrics throughout the ages.
Carefully researched and with full-colour photographs adorning every page, The Renaissance of Uzbek Silk is a worthy tribute to this centuries’ old tradition, a true cultural heritage, now preserved for future generations thanks to the magnificent works of Uzbek master-weavers.
Ikat is the original, unique tradition of silk weaving, a craft carefully passed down through the ages from generation to generation and preserved to this day as a priceless cultural heritage of the Uzbek nation.
From the days of the Eastern Renaissance up until now, the skill of Uzbek masters has brought the world fabrics renowned for their rare beauty and harmony. And today, too, Ikat continues to travel the Silk Road!
From the clack of the loom to the swish of the gown, silk tells a story all its own. Here in Uzbekistan, that story began almost two thousand years ago and is still being told today.
The gorgeous silk and semi-silk fabrics woven here are born of the intricate ikat weaving technique found in far-flung corners of the world, though it is here in Uzbekistan that we find the most captivating, expressive ikat. It’s a long journey from cocoon to loom as the warp yarns are bound and dyed by hand before they are woven with the weft yarns. The creative skills needed for this almost magical process have been handed down through the ages from generation to generation. The result? Stunning, dynamic patterns on a fabric so soft it flows through your fingers, shimmering with all the colours of the rainbow.
In Uzbekistan, ikat are known as abr, from the Persian word for ‘cloud’ referring to the hallmark patterns said to have fallen from the heavens. We can recognise three main types of Uzbek abr: atlas with its striking colour contrasts and mesmerising motifs; the softer tones of adras with their ribbed surface ideal for covers and furnishings, and the regal, airy shoyi.
This recent publication, The Renaissance of Uzbek Silk, is as gorgeous as the silks it describes. Alongside a full chronology of abr fabrics, from the discovery of silk through the rise of weaving traditions right up to the birth of modern, classical Uzbek ikat, this luxury hardback edition contains a wealth of mouth-watering examples of silks through the ages, from royal robes to simple soft furnishings. We are also introduced to modern-day artisans who tell us of the complicated dyeing techniques and the natural recipes they use to achieve their stunning colours. A whole chapter is devoted to a detailed description of how the patterns and motifs characteristic of each region evolved into the decorative modern fabrics produced today. Since the yarns are dyed by hand using natural plant dyes and the master creates each design individually, every length of fabric is a unique, never to be repeated work of art.
And this has caught the eye of fashion designers. Acknowledged as some of the most unusual and visually dramatic examples of Central Asian silk, Uzbek national textiles are conquering the runways. The originality and exceptional beauty of these fabrics delights fashion designers, piquing the imagination of famous couturiers and young designers alike.
Abr textiles are also becoming an increasingly popular feature in modern home décor and interior design.
No matter where it is worn, Uzbek ikat shimmers with enchanting, vibrant colours, linking East and West through the exotic beauty of the Silk Road.
READ MORE IN RUSSIAN: http://cafb.asia/ru/article/622/
