Climbing Bedouin
“A young Bedouin boy climbing barefoot on a boulder in the middle of Wadi Rum, Jordan. Throughout its poetical existence, the Silk Road has significant value in our history as human beings, especially in our globalized world. It represents the shared, rich history, of many cultures, countries and people.”
The UNESCO Silk Roads Programme reinforces intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding by building links between people from different communities. Through this programme, UNESCO has not only succeeded in reviving the historical Silk Roads, but has also promoted the present-day legacy of human interactions, common values, and shared heritage. This is achieved through different Silk Roads Programme sub-initiatives such as the Online Platform, the Interactive Atlas, and the International Photo Contest.
Women in Agriculture
“Rice not only brings prosperity, but it also brings beauty to the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. Both rice and the hard-working farmers that produce it are indispensable to the growth of the Vietnamese village, today and forever.”
The annual UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads International Photo Contest offers an exciting opportunity for young people between 14 and 25 years old from all over the world to capture their understanding of the shared heritage of the Silk Roads through the lens of their camera. Because the visual arts, and in particular photography, are increasingly being used by today’s youth as a powerful tool for communication and self-expression, they have the potential to play a significant role in raising awareness of the key issues facing our contemporary world.
Therefore, the UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest invites young people living or travelling within these regions to share their perceptions, and further their understanding of the common cultural heritage and pluralistic identities emerging from the interactions and exchanges taking place along the Silk Roads. The contest encourages the use of photography to extend these cultural encounters into the contemporary world and promote peace and tolerance amongst diverse populations. It aims to raise awareness among youth of the importance of the Silk Roads’ shared legacy, as a basis for mutual understanding and respect in our increasingly globalized world.
Won the Second Prize for Category Two (17-25 years old)
Gongfu on Hand
“Photographed in the old tea house in Peng, Chengdu, in the Sichuan province in China. Historically, Chinese tea was the main commodity of the Silk Road. In contemporary society, both the spiritual and cultural significance associated with tea and teahouses have been recognized by the world. Tea plays a major role in trade, while also helping to promote mutual understanding and respect between people.”
The contest is divided into two age categories: 14-17 and 18-25 year olds. The International Selection Committee members examine their submissions and select the winners from each age category. The first contest took place in 2018 and mobilized applicants from 100 countries around the world. The young photographers were invited to take pictures that represented the Silk Roads heritage within four major themes: Culture, Monuments, Landscape and People. A photograph album showcasing the best submisssions was published in 2019, and a travelling exhibition presenting the best photographs was shown in countries around the world.
Following the success of the first contest, a second one, launched at the end of 2019, received more than 3,500 submissions. For this second edition, the photos had to represent one of these three themes: Gastronomy and Food Production, Music and Dance, or Traditional Sports and Games along the Silk Roads. The results of the contest will be announced in mid-2020.
Gamelan
“Mbah Ripto, playing a gamelan (a traditional Indonesian music instrument) that he made himself. ‘Gamelan’ was founded in the 8th century in Borobudur Temple, which is a Buddhist temple. Buddhism was mainly spread along the Silk Roads.”
In addition to mobilizing young people from different regions around the world, the photography contest encourages young people to use photography as a tool for peace, and for the raising of awareness about the Silk Roads heritage.
Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest website: https://unescosilkroadphotocontest.org/
Photo Album of the first edition Youth Lens on the Silk Roads: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000368897
Got the Honourable Mention for Category Two (17-25 years old)
Celestial Youth
“Kyrgyz dancers on a traditional swing at the Teskei Jeek, South Shore, Issyk Kul Ethno Festival. Since ancient times, traditional dancing, which is a part of the Silk Road culture, has been passed down through generations.”
Right: © Badr Al Qassabi (Oman) /UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads
Sandalwood
“A woman puts sandalwood on a child’s face. I took this photo during a festival in the SAFA house.”
Written by Tara Golkar – UNESCO-MOST
