Riyadh, October 5, 2025 — The Riyadh International Book Fair 2025 hosted a cultural seminar today titled "Designing Identity: Uzbekistan's Creative Spirit," presented by Dr. Chakulo Ahmedov, who walked the audience through Uzbekistan's rich artistic and cultural features and its diverse civilizational heritage, spanning architecture, traditional arts and a distinctive visual identity.

During the seminar, Ahmedov traced the history of Uzbek cities, which over the centuries served as prominent centers of culture and the arts, noting that this heritage is reflected in the Islamic architecture, ornamentation, inscriptions and handicrafts the country became known for — including decorated vessels and colorful textiles made using natural dyes and inherited traditional methods that became part of the identity of Uzbek homes.

She explained that the 20th century saw comprehensive documentation of Uzbekistan's architectural heritage through the publication of a specialized book that highlighted the country's standing as a repository of historical heritage for civilizations and religions, stressing that this legacy remains strongly present in the country's urban and cultural landscape today.

Ahmedov noted that the diversity of colors and artistic patterns found in Uzbekistan reflects overlapping influences from multiple artistic schools, pointing out that the city of Oqvan was historically a major center for textile production and export around the world, while Uzbek architecture captures the relationship between people and nature through harmoniously designed interiors and exteriors.

She added that the arrival of Islam in Uzbekistan helped enrich the country's architectural arts and Islamic ornamentation, with its influence visible in Arabic calligraphy, which became an integral part of Uzbek cultural identity and remains present in artwork and modern manuscripts today.

The seminar is part of the Riyadh International Book Fair's diverse cultural program, which opens windows onto the world's cultures and highlights the value of diversity and cultural exchange between nations.