“Turkmenistan: Ancient Arts Today” is the title of the richly illustrated album catalogue published by the Smithsonian Institution (Washington, United States) to mark the 20th anniversary of independence of the Turkmen state and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and the United States of America.
The publication of the new book is timed to the Days of Culture of Turkmenistan in Washington which have become an opportunity for the members of the Turkmen delegation to visit one of the oldest and largest research and cultural centres in the United States. The Smithsonian Institution is known as the world’s largest museum complex. Along with scientific and educational institutions, numerous research centres and libraries, it unites 19 museums and galleries keeping 142 million exhibits in natural sciences, history, ethnography, art, folklore, etc.
Following the tradition, the U.S. President heads the Smithsonian Institution and the honorary board of the institution also includes the Vice President and the U.S. Secretary of State, ministers and other officials. The Institution carries out the publishing activities, issues scientific papers and monographs, promotional and periodical literature.
The work on the new book about the art of Turkmenistan was carried out in the framework of the programme on the cultural history of Asia. The authors pay particular attention to enrichment, maintenance and continuity of artistic traditions of Turkmen culture from the antiquity to modern times as well as a present-day interpretation of the national heritage and its role in spiritual life of the society.
The new book invites the readers to make a journey to the world of architecture, music, painting, sculpture, decorative and applied arts and crafts of the Turkmen people. The album begins with the introductory article “Turkmenistan Today: the Past Inspires the Present” that describes our country as one of the main historical centres of world civilization and tells about its unique culture and the work carried out under the patronage of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in our country on the study and actualization of the priceless historical and cultural heritage of the nation.
The article is followed by the historical review that allows looking into the depths of centuries and seeing the origins of the Turkmen state, the birth of national arts and artistic schools which influenced the artistic thought and culture of the East. The separate chapters are dedicated to age-old traditions and specifics of Turkmen music, the national instruments and folk musicians – bagshshi and sazanda, Turkmen museums and their unique collections and about cultural life in modern Turkmenistan.
The album is illustrated with the reproductions of the exhibits displayed in the Main National Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan, including carpet masterpieces demonstrating richness and refinement of the ornamental language of the national art, consummate mastery of Turkmen carpet makers and the works by Turkmen artists, sculptors and masters of decorative and applied arts.
The photographs of historical and archaeological sites of Turkmenistan, outstanding monuments of medieval architecture and rare archival pictures are presented in the book. The photos depicting beauty of white-marble Ashgabat, its magnificent new buildings, monumental sculptures and fountains, nationwide festivities, colourful customs and traditions supplement the story about the history of Turkmen arts.
The new book is designed for a wide readership. It is a wonderful present for English-speaking readers interested in culture and traditions of the Turkmen people, including the visitors to the Turkmen decorative and applied art exhibition opened in Washington these days.
The publication of the new book is timed to the Days of Culture of Turkmenistan in Washington which have become an opportunity for the members of the Turkmen delegation to visit one of the oldest and largest research and cultural centres in the United States. The Smithsonian Institution is known as the world’s largest museum complex. Along with scientific and educational institutions, numerous research centres and libraries, it unites 19 museums and galleries keeping 142 million exhibits in natural sciences, history, ethnography, art, folklore, etc.
Following the tradition, the U.S. President heads the Smithsonian Institution and the honorary board of the institution also includes the Vice President and the U.S. Secretary of State, ministers and other officials. The Institution carries out the publishing activities, issues scientific papers and monographs, promotional and periodical literature.
The work on the new book about the art of Turkmenistan was carried out in the framework of the programme on the cultural history of Asia. The authors pay particular attention to enrichment, maintenance and continuity of artistic traditions of Turkmen culture from the antiquity to modern times as well as a present-day interpretation of the national heritage and its role in spiritual life of the society.
The new book invites the readers to make a journey to the world of architecture, music, painting, sculpture, decorative and applied arts and crafts of the Turkmen people. The album begins with the introductory article “Turkmenistan Today: the Past Inspires the Present” that describes our country as one of the main historical centres of world civilization and tells about its unique culture and the work carried out under the patronage of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in our country on the study and actualization of the priceless historical and cultural heritage of the nation.
The article is followed by the historical review that allows looking into the depths of centuries and seeing the origins of the Turkmen state, the birth of national arts and artistic schools which influenced the artistic thought and culture of the East. The separate chapters are dedicated to age-old traditions and specifics of Turkmen music, the national instruments and folk musicians – bagshshi and sazanda, Turkmen museums and their unique collections and about cultural life in modern Turkmenistan.
The album is illustrated with the reproductions of the exhibits displayed in the Main National Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan, including carpet masterpieces demonstrating richness and refinement of the ornamental language of the national art, consummate mastery of Turkmen carpet makers and the works by Turkmen artists, sculptors and masters of decorative and applied arts.
The photographs of historical and archaeological sites of Turkmenistan, outstanding monuments of medieval architecture and rare archival pictures are presented in the book. The photos depicting beauty of white-marble Ashgabat, its magnificent new buildings, monumental sculptures and fountains, nationwide festivities, colourful customs and traditions supplement the story about the history of Turkmen arts.
The new book is designed for a wide readership. It is a wonderful present for English-speaking readers interested in culture and traditions of the Turkmen people, including the visitors to the Turkmen decorative and applied art exhibition opened in Washington these days.
