2019 Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism – Connecting Cities: Samarkand

Samarkand, situated at the heart of the Eurasian continent, has long served as both a crossroads and a hub where Eastern and Western civilizations collided and converged. Over three millennia, countless layers of cultures and peoples accumulated in the city. Though its rulers changed repeatedly, its role as a hub endured—almost as if it were destined from the very beginning.

Discovered during a road construction project in 1965 on the northeastern hill of Samarkand, the 7th-century Afrasiab Palace Murals encapsulate the city’s cosmopolitan character. The murals depict envoys from across the world who engaged with Samarkand—including, remarkably, emissaries from Korea. Surrounding the palace and city walls stood fortified gates such as the Kesh Gate, Nau Bechar Gate, Bukhara Gate, and China Gate, each opening to the wider world.

Samarkand was a city that connected other cities, supplying civilizations and goods to help them thrive. This exhibition explores the essence of Samarkand as a hub city through the lens of the 7th-century Afrasiab heritage site.

Title: Samarkand, Uzbekistan: Bridging Cities
Producer: TRIC
Year of Production: 2019-09-07
Location: Donuimun Museum Village
Publisher: Seoul Biennale
Photographer: Jin Hyo-suk