Uzbekistan: An Experience of Cultural
Treasures to Color, is a stunning foray into the world of adult coloring books.
It’s an ambitious, unique work that is bound to inspire imitation. Handsomely
bound and packed with stunning illustrations, it is the work of Lola
Karimova-Tillyaeva and spans 2,000-years of Uzbek culture and history.
So as not to overwhelm the reader,
the huge array of artefacts and artworks depicted are organized by theme;
architecture, murals, carvings, textiles, etc. Together they tell the story of
Uzbekistan’s rich and diverse cultural legacy - a captivating blend of
influences spanning Persia, India, China and Siberia.
Though superficially an adult
colouring book, Lola Tillyaeva’s
ambitions
run far beyond the standard offerings of this genre. Each image is accompanied
by an informative text which helps position it into its correct cultural
context. The opposing page presents the reader with a detailed line sketch of
the same. A blank canvas, it invites readers to color the object as the spirit
moves them.
A brief glance through online reviews
is revealing. One mum praised Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva’s book for
stimulating discussion with her “four-year old about the importance of the
preservation of art and artefacts and learning about other cultures…” (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41093451-uzbekistan). This
was exactly the reaction Lola had aimed to achieve.
The line sketches
purposely incorporate blank areas to reflect any missing sections in the
original. In this way, the reader is confronted with the conundrum faced by
museum curators the world over; to try and replicate what has been lost or
emphasise what remains. As the above reviewer went on to say, “We have art
books in the house that the children examine, but I don’t think they
internalized or made as much a connection as this one did,” (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41093451-uzbekistan). In
this way, Lola Tillyaeva’s publication transcends her subject
and engenders a wider interest in art for its own sake.
Uzbekistan:
An Experience of Cultural Treasures to Colour is not Lola
Karimova-Tillyaeva’s first artistic project. She is also responsible for The
Droplet. 12 meters in height and constructed of aluminium tubing, the
installation represents a stylised droplet of falling water. First launched in
Paris in 2017, it will tour other European cities and is designed to stimulate
debate around the issue of water scarcity. In Lola Tillyaeva’s own
words, “I believe that art has an incredible capacity to inspire, encourage and
unite people around a cause, due to its ability to touch the human soul,” (https://www.lolakarimova.com/the-droplet).
A
hardcover publication containing 144 pages of gorgeous, lovingly presented
images, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva’s book would also make an eye-catching
coffee-table piece. An Uzbek herself, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva is
well-known for her pride in her nation’s history and culture. One suspects that
Lola is also aiming to foster interest more generally in Uzbekistan’s diverse, colourful and fascinating heritage. This
is the great success of Uzbekistan: An Experience of Cultural Treasures
to Colour. The book effortlessly bridges several disparate
worlds. Not merely a source of hours of relaxing artistic expression, it also
manages to educate and provoke reflection.
