TEHRAN – Iran’s National Museum is showcasing 7,000 years of civilization in digital format at a new exhibition in Beijing that brings together cultural relics from member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The exhibition, titled “Galaxy of Civilizations: Joint Exhibition of Cultural Relics from National Museums of SCO Member Countries,” opened on August 27 at the National Museum of China.

The opening ceremony was attended by Nemat Iranzadeh, the Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Beijing, and featured a video conference speech by Dr. Jebrael Nokandeh, Director-General of the National Museum of Iran.

The exhibition, supported by the SCO Secretariat and hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, is a key program of the National Museum of China’s 2025 National Exhibition Year initiative. It will be on display for three months, until November 16, 2025.

The exhibition brings together 220 precious original artifacts from 10 cultural institutions and museums across the nine SCO member states: Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. While other nations contributed physical objects, the National Museum of Iran presented its collection through an innovative photo and digital display.

According to Jebrael Nokandeh, the original plan to send physical artifacts was thwarted by external circumstances. He stated in a video conference speech at the opening. “Fortunately, through the sincere cooperation of the National Museum of China, we were able to participate in this exhibition digitally.”

The Iranian section now features a significant collection of 14 iconic artifacts represented through high-resolution photographs and detailed 3D models. Nokandeh described the display as an invitation “on a journey through 7,000 years of Iranian history—a story told through 14 masterpieces.” The presentation spans from the Neolithic era to the Qajar dynasty, including pieces such as “painted pottery from 6,200 BCE, a bronze quiver from Luristan, or a gold-inlaid peacock from Isfahan,” each reflecting “the innovation, skill, and vision of our ancestors.”

Nokandeh emphasized that the digital presentation still powerfully conveys the depth of Iranian cultural heritage. He noted that the artifacts demonstrate a “timeless Persian aesthetic: a reverence for nature, a mastery of materials, and a harmony of function and symbolism,” and that the exhibition is “more than a display of artifacts; it is a testament to the power of cultural heritage to connect us.”

In his concluding remarks, he also put forward a proposal for future collaboration, stating, “I also propose that similar exhibitions be held as a traveling showcase across the national museums of other SCO member countries. Undoubtedly, such exhibitions will help deepen our appreciation for the rich cultural heritage of our peoples and our shared legacy, while further strengthening the bonds of friendship among us.”

The “Galaxy of Civilizations” exhibition is supported by the SCO Secretariat and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China. It will run until November 16, 2025.

AM