Hasta La Ideas

In early 2003, photographer and writer Tom Schutyser traveled in a West-East direction along the Silk Road documenting the sights he saw along the way. The resulting show, “Caravanserais a Metaphor,” is a photographic glimpse of his journey from Iran through Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to China, shot in black and white.

Opening last week at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture Paris Val-de-Seine in Paris, the exhibition highlights his favorite topic—the ruins of the caravanserais. Built specifically to shelter men, goods and animals along ancient caravan routes, the caravanserais are a reminder of a more prosperous time.

And the title? The Belgium-born photographer feels that the caravansarais are “a metaphor for a successful platform of international exchange and communication” between the Western and Muslim worlds.

Caravanserais a Metaphor

Through 30 June 2009

École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture Paris Val-de-Seine

3-15, quai Panhard et Levassor

75013 Paris, France map

tel. +33 01 72 69 6300