By Aisylu Akhmetzianova and Yoon Sojung
Photos = Lee Jun Young

An exhibition in Seoul displays the decades-long friendship and cultural similarities of Korea and Uzbekistan.

The Uzbekistani Embassy in Seoul and the domestic publication Diplomacy Journal on March 5 opened a cultural exchange exhibition to mark the 33rd anniversary of bilateral ties at Insadong Korea Gallery in Seoul's Jongno-gu District.

On display are works of photography and minhwa (folk) and modern paintings. About 70 of them are by Uzbek artists and another 70 or so by Korean counterparts.

Visitors seemed especially drawn to photos of the Central Asian country's distinct features like the sunset in Bukhara, an Uzbekistani city and former famous site of the Silk Road, and the smiles of Uzbeks clad in traditional attire. Among the Korean works were minhwa paintings with traditional humor featuring a tiger smoking a pipe, dragons, lotus flowers and peonies.


At the event's opening ceremony, Uzbekistani Ambassador to Korea Alisher Abdusalomov spoke of both countries' special relationship built through friendship over a long history, adding that this year's Year of Korea-Uzbekistan Mutual Exchange is an important milestone to reinforce the special strategic partnership between the two sides.

The exhibition is a special opportunity to showcase Uzbekistan's culture, history, tourism and economic potential as well as beautiful paintings from Korea, making it an occasion to more deeply feel the friendship between the two countries, he said, emphasizing brotherhood between the people of both nations.

"This exhibition is a chance to share the beauty of the arts of both countries and recognize again the importance of cultural exchange," said Diplomacy Journal Editor-in-chief Lee Jon-young, whose magazine organized the event with the Uzbekistani Embassy in Seoul. "I hope this is a valuable opportunity to open a new chapter in cultural, economic and tourism cooperation in going beyond simple art exchange."

The ceremony was attended by about 200 people including Uzbekistani-born ethnic Korean students, workers, Koreans interested in Uzbekistani culture, diplomatic staff and Korean artists.

Other events included ceremonies for scholarships awarded to ethnic Korean students from Uzbekistan and donation of the works of Myongji University professor Lee Mi-hyung. Another was an exhibition of the works of 13 Korean artists invited by the Korea Masters Association.

The exhibition runs through March 11. Admission is free.


aisylu@korea.kr