Silk Road

The Silk Road, in a broad sense, refers to the vast trade and cultural routes that, for more than two millennia, connected China to the rest of the world, through Central Asia, the Middle East, East Africa and as far as Europe.

Its opening dates back to the time of Emperor Han Wudi (2nd century BC), when he sent the emissary Zhang Qian to establish alliances with the western kingdoms to counter the Xiongnu. This is how the first major trade route between China, Central Asia and Europe was born.
The term "Silk Road" did not appear until 1877, coined by the German geographer Ferdinand von Richthofen, in reference to the central role of Chinese silk in these exchanges.

This route, first overland and then by sea, connected the plains of central China to the edge of the desert, to the ports of Arabia, Persia, and the Mediterranean. It extended eastward to Korea and Japan, and westward to France and the Netherlands. By sea, it reached Italy, Greece, and Egypt.

More than just a trade network, the Silk Road was a bridge between civilizations : a place of migrations, dialogues, and cultural exchange. Each stop along the route bears the marks of an exchange of goods, languages, beliefs, and know-how.

It is this historical, cultural and poetic richness that the "Silk Road" collection celebrates, transforming it into a visual language.