For the first time in Dublin, as part of the Silk Road Film Festival we welcome the Silk Road Exhibition, a thrilling journey along the greatest trading route in history. A photographic exhibition and an art exhibition in one venue designed to introduce their art, culture and images of the countries visited during the era of Silk Road voyages. The start of many more to come aiming to explore the cities of Asia and the Middle East between AD 600 and 1200, and discover the spectacular sights, exquisite silks, and the abundance of rousing stories.

This year the exhibition will be bring to life some of the countries from the legendary Silk Road. We are delighted to have several artists participating from Iran and one from Yemen exhibiting their marvellous paintings. The photographic exhibition includes several Irish artists who travelled to some of the Silk Road routes and others who are from those wonderful countries, such as Pakistan, Lebanon and Iran.

In collaboration once again, Dublin City are joining us and the rest of the world to celebrate Nowruz (“New Day” in Persian) – also The Festival of Spring, a traditional New Year celebration in some Middle Eastern and Central Asian Countries. It is a joyful awakening of nature after winter at the coming of the spring equinox, celebrated for at least 3,000 years and deeply rooted in the rituals and traditions for the beginning of spring.

Photo exhibition curated by photographer Fares Fares.

Art exhibition curated by artist Roxana Manouchehri and Nasrin Sadaat

The show will be opened by Irish actress Aisling O'Sullivan.