Patterns and Symbols: A Heritage of Belarusian Ornament

As part of the Belarusian Cultural Week, the National Museum inaugurates the exhibition “Patterns and Symbols: A Heritage of Belarusian Ornament” on (5th March 2020 CE), under the auspices of Her Excellency Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed al-Shaibaniya, Minister of Education – Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum. This exhibition comes within the framework of the Memorandums of Understanding between the Sultanate of Oman and Republic of Belarus since 2018 CE in the field in the museum and cultural fields, including an MOU between the National Museum – Sultanate of Oman and the National Historical Museum in Republic of Belarus. The inauguration was attended by a senior Belarusian delegation headed by His Excellency Yuri Bondar, Minister of Culture and the accompanied delegation.
 
This exhibition invites visitors to explore a collection of the most expressive and authentic examples of Belarusian ornamental traditions selected from the National History Museum in Minsk, Belarus.
 
In the second half of the 19th century, at the time of the formation of the Belarusian identity, existing weaving traditions and folk costumes played an important role in defining the narrative of the Belarusian national culture. Local varieties of material culture were celebrated at this time and ancient folk rites were being revived.
 
To the people of Belarus, the symbols and motifs left on woven and embroidered objects are messages to their ancestors and symbolic reminders of them. These messages concern their requests, dreams, hopes and good wishes for relatives and friends. They are also an artistic expression of feelings of happiness and sadness which were part of the Belarusian people’s lives and stories. Join us as we explore the deep meanings found in every woven centimetre of fabric and every stitch of the patterns displayed in this exhibition. Together they reflect an ethnographic chronicle of the people of Belarus.
 
Virtual tour of the Exhibition