Origins of the Silk Road

This exhibition featured approx. 180 extremely well-preserved antiques excavated from graves found in the Taklamakan Desert in the far western regions of the People's Republic of China. They provide evidence of the unique cultural transfer that took place via the Silk Road - a route stretching from Central Asia to the Mediterranean. Here in Germany, many are unfamiliar with this Far Eastern region and its inter-culturally influenced civilization. The unprecedented magnitude of cultural exchange along the Silk Road puts today's long-distance cultural transfers into perspective. Back then, it was absolutely normal for inhabitants living in practically inaccessible regions to interact with other cultures on the Eurasian continent. This cultural-historic exhibition was made possible through the tremendous cooperation of Chinese archaeologists and the colleagues from the Curt Engelhorn Foundation and the Reiss Engelhorn Museums in Mannheim.

Curators: Christoph Lind, Alfried Wieczorek
Participants / artists: Wang Bo (CHN), Mayke Wagner, Zhang Yuzhong (CHN)

Venues and Schedule:
Martin Gropius Building, Berlin; Okt. 2007 - Jan 2008
Reiss Engelhorn Museums, Mannheim: 09. Feb. 2007 - 08. June 2008