Qaraqalpaqs of the Aral Delta

Independent UK-based researchers David Richardson and Sue Richardson spent 14 years on the southern shore of the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan, where they encountered the rich artistic culture of the Qaraqalpaqs. The Aral Sea was once the world's fourth-largest lake but has essentially disappeared because of ill-conceived irrigation projects. This monograph, the definitive English text on this group, fights against the potential disappearance of Qaraqalpaq art as the people who practice it have been seriously affected by the degradation of their landscape and disappearance of the traditional fishing industry. In addition to detailing the production and meaning behind various textiles, costumes, jewelry, dwellings, and furnishings, the Richardsons also supply readers with a thorough exploration of the Qaraqalpaqs' way of life, gleaning information from oral histories, the landscape, and even DNA testing. Through these cultural details, readers learn the meanings behind the different kinds of stitches in their rich fabrics. (A favorite is the xanim t'u kirigi or "queen's spit.") The authors also explain how various aspects of the deceased's costume must be accounted for before funeral rites occur; this includes cutting up and restitching fabric into baby shirts to signify lineage and ensure protection of the future generation.