Oriented on making people closer

On January 22nd, a grand opening of the Turkmen exhibition within the framework of Civilizations: Winter Edition took place at the prestigious MUSE Gallery, located in the Sablon cultural center of Brussels. The event, organized with the support of the European Central Asian Creative Alliance, founded by Elena Kharitonova, and Sheker Akyniyazova, head of the "Keshde" creative studio, became a notable event in Brussels' cultural life.

The Civilizations: Winter Edition exhibition demonstrates, for the first time, the distinctive creations of Turkmen artisans, including exquisite jewelry, carpets, and textiles, which highlight Turkmenistan's rich and diverse heritage.

Arie Vos, founder of the Civilizations group, speaking at the opening, noted:

"We are honored to include Turkmen culture in the Civilizations Winter Edition program for the first time. This is a unique step forward in the cultural sphere, and such events play a key role in strengthening friendship, mutual understanding, and trust between peoples".

The Ambassador of Turkmenistan, Sapar Palvanov, addressing the event's guests, emphasized the importance of cultural initiatives for promoting peace and trust:

"We are proud that 2025 has been declared by the UN as the International Year of Peace and Trust at the initiative of Turkmenistan. This year is of particular importance to us, as we also celebrate the 30th anniversary of our policy of neutrality. Culture, like neutrality, is a universal language that unites people. Through this exhibition, we contribute to strengthening peace, friendship, and mutual understanding between peoples".

The Ambassador expressed gratitude to Elena Kharitonova and Sheker Akyniyazova for their contribution to organizing this unique event, emphasizing their active role in promoting Turkmen culture on the international stage.

The exhibition gathered collectors, ambassadors, representatives of European institutions, and art connoisseurs. The uniqueness of the presented exhibits, including examples of decorative and applied arts from the "Keshde" studio, aroused wide interest among the participants.

The exhibition will run until January 26th, providing an opportunity for everyone to experience the rich heritage of Turkmen art.

Civilizations is an international platform uniting galleries, collectors, artists, designers, and art connoisseurs from around the world. The main goal of the Civilizations group is to create a space for cultural dialogue, promote the art of various countries and peoples, and strengthen mutual understanding between cultures through creativity and collaboration.

Civilizations: Winter Edition is an annual winter series of exhibitions organized by the Civilizations group. This period is dedicated to special and rare collections, which are displayed in one of the most prestigious cultural districts of Brussels – Sablon, in the MUSE Gallery.

Winter Edition brings together exhibits from various countries, presenting their unique cultural heritage. Each year, the theme and focus of the exhibition change to provide visitors with the opportunity to discover new aspects of art and craft.

ORIENT

Photo: provided by the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belgium