The Silk Road in Words and Pictures

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This image of traditional clothing and crafts on display at a Friday market in Islamabad, Pakistan was one of the slides Isabel Cutler showed on Nov. 18, 2010. (Isabel Cutler)

WASHINGTON, November 18, 2010 - The vitality and diversity of Asia's historic Silk Road came alive for an Asia Society audience here, as visual artist Isabel "Didi" Cutler recounted, through words and a breathtaking slideshow, her experience documenting the Ninth Annual Silk Road Festival, held in Syria earlier this year.

Cutler began with a few historical remarks regarding the Silk Road, the extensive network of trade routes that historically connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean world. The photographer reminded her audience of the wide array of Asian countries that fell within the Silk Road's path, highlighted the critical role that the Syrian capital of Damascus assumed as one of the Road's hubs, and recalled the diversity of religions that it encompassed.

"One is viscerally aware of its history today," Cutler remarked. "Religions and civilizations intermingle with the vitality of modern times."

Cutler continued by taking the audience on a photographic run-through of her most recent journey. Extending from Beijing to Peshawar, in northwest Pakistan, her vivid photos depicted citadels, famous ruins, countrysides, deserts, markets, art galleries, and portraits.

The slideshow ended with a photographic exploration of the role of women in Islamic societies—a lively topic of discussion in the question and answer session that followed. 

Reported by Kate Rosin