Somewhere other than here, the longing for the Silk Road
In Uzbekistan, I encountered the cities along the Silk Road that I had always dreamed of visiting someday. The city surrounded by old walls and the lives of its people, the smiles of children, the beautiful tiles with beautiful patterns and the colors of mosques and madreses, the ancient ruins buried in the desert, prayer, food, heat, dryness, and the harsh sunlight burnt them. I was able to photograph the beautifullight that fell on the dry land, giving it a shadow that looked like it had been washed away.
While traveling through Uzbekistan, I also thought about Japan's rich natural water and greenery, the flowers and culture that bloom in each season, the local lifestyle, faith, and cities which connects to the eastern end of the Silk Road.
Since ancient times, the Silk Road has been a trade route crossed by camels, where not only cultural artifacts were exchanged, but also the hearts and feelings entrusted to travelers were exchanged in the form of religion and culture. I believe that such exchange is the message to modern society that connects the world and creates future peace.
Through this photo exhibition, we hope that by juxtaposing the soul landscapes of Uzbekistan and Japan in one venue, it will be a way for us to touch each other's souls and build a future.
I would like to express my gratitude to all involved in holding this photo exhibition at the wonderful venue of Ikuo Hirayama Caravan-sarai. And, like Mr. Ikuo Hirayama, I would like to continue to search for new colors of light in my future travels.
Photographer
Takaaki INADA