Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 14 May 2024, the Today’s Masters Meet Tomorrow’s Talents exhibition, organized by the Michelangelo Foundation for Support of Creativity and Craftsmanship, opened at Cromwell Place in London, UK, as part of London Crafts Week. Graduates of the first year of the fellowship program presented their work inspired by their experiences sharing the Homo Faber travel program.

In April 2023, the “Uzbek Chapter” was added to the Homo Faber Guide, including 11 craftsmen representing traditional artistic crafts of Uzbekistan. They are among the world’s outstanding artisans. Shokhrukh Rakhimov, a member of a famous family of ceramicists, was accepted into the prestigious Homo Faber Fellowship program, studying in Portugal and Greece and learning from the experience of local craftsmen.

“Participation in the prestigious Homo Faber Fellowship program is an important step towards working with the youth and creative talents of Uzbekistan.

By recognizing the importance of craftsmanship and supporting the development of craftsmen, we can talk about preserving our cultural identity and its further development. I am confident that cooperation between the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan and the Michelangelo Foundation for the Support of Creativity and Craftsmanship will provide new opportunities to expand the creative potential of young masters, enrich their experience and understanding of the modern world and contribute to the inclusion of Uzbek craft practices in the global cultural space. We are proud of the presence of an Uzbek master at the exhibition in London,” Gayane Umerova, Chairman of the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan.

The exhibition features a collaboration between Shokhrukh Rakhimov and the Greek master Yannis Zois - a monumental totem inspired by the shapes of Buddhist prayer cylinders. The totem is made of porcelain, African wood and plated with 22-karat gold. The appearance of this collaboration between Rakhimov and Zois reflects the intersection of Islamic architecture and ancient Greek traditions, demonstrating the parallels between Eastern and Western cultures.

“For six months, thanks to the unique experience of participating in the Homo Faber scholarship program, the Greek master Yiannis Zois and I worked a lot and experimented, including with materials that I had not worked with before - porcelain paste and gold. The technique was also different from the methods I was used to - we worked with high firing temperatures. Thanks to this, many creative ideas were born that will be implemented in various collaborations in the future. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to see the fantastic result of our joint work. This is a great honor for me, I will continue to develop the traditional art of Uzbekistan, mastering new techniques and gaining a new perspective on working with traditional crafts,” Shokhrukh Rakhimov, master ceramist.

The flora and fauna on the totem, inspired by Uzbek motifs, symbolize Eastern culture, giving the piece sophistication and airiness.

Animals—fish, butterflies, deer, and birds—embody deep symbolic meanings derived from both Eastern and Western aesthetic values. The combination of gold and porcelain in the design gives the piece luxury and elegance, expressing the craftsmen’s admiration for the beauty of cultural diversity.

The exhibition will be open from 14 to 19 May 2024 during London Craft Week.