The exhibition was realized within the framework of intensified cultural cooperation between Serbia and China marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Its first presentation, in digital format, was held at the Ningbo Museum from April 18 to June 22, 2025, as part of the China–CEEC Expo, a major international event dedicated to cooperation between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
The formal opening of the exhibition at the Cultural Center of Serbia ‘Ivo Andrić’ in Beijing took place on July 5, 2025. The display featured carefully selected objects from the Pirot Kilim Collection of the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade—one of its most significant holdings—comprising 169 items collected from the late 19th to the mid-20th century, with examples dating from 1792 to 1932.
Following its presentation in Beijing, the exhibition was shown at the Shandong Provincial Cultural Center, where visitor numbers testified to the strong interest of Chinese audiences in Serbian traditional craftsmanship.
A particularly important presentation was organized at the Shaanxi Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center within the exhibition “Serbian–Chinese Harmonies,” marking seventy years of friendship between the peoples of Serbia and China. This display offered a unique comparative view of Serbian and Chinese weaving traditions, highlighting shared values of handcraftsmanship, ornamentation, and textile heritage as carriers of cultural identity.
The exhibition “Two Faces of Pirot Kilims” shed light on Pirot weaving as one of the most representative segments of Serbian cultural heritage, renowned for its rich ornamentation, distinctive coloration, exceptional wool quality, and highly refined weaving techniques. The chronological concept of the exhibition demonstrated the development of this craft within a broader socio-historical context, as well as its important role in Serbia’s cultural diplomacy throughout history.
This outstanding international success represents a significant contribution to the promotion of Serbian cultural heritage worldwide and provides strong support to the Republic of Serbia’s initiative to inscribe Pirot kilim weaving on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The exhibition’s presentation in China confirmed that the Pirot kilim—symbolizing tradition, artistry, and the cultural identity of Serbia—possesses a powerful potential to connect peoples through the universal language of culture.
