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Spirit and Life Exhibition in London - Art from Muslim Contexts
31 August 2007
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Slip-decorated pottery dish |
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Sprit and Life, an exhibition of rare art and manuscripts from Muslim contexts, was on display at the Ismaili Centre in London from the 14th of July to the 31st of August. Containing more than 165 masterpieces, the exhibition provided a fascinating insight into Muslim civilisations.
The exhibition, organised by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, showcases artistic works that will form part of the collection of the Aga Khan Museum which will open in Toronto in 2010.
AKU-ISMC Senior Instructor Arif Jamal viewed the exhibition, and spoke of the outstanding beauty of the pieces that make up the collection. “What struck me was not so much the quantity of the exhibition, but the quality and that there are so many pieces of exceptional beauty. My favourite element of the collection was the calligraphy. One gets a sense of its importance in Muslim societies through looking at the wonderful scrolls and paintings in this collection.”
Jamal highlighted the way in which the pieces had been organised - both thematically and historically in parts - showcasing the geographical and cultural diversity of the arts from various Muslim contexts.
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Incense burner |
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From viewing the exhibition, Jamal expressed his belief that it would become a globally important collection of art from Muslim contexts. “The collection was clearly stronger in some areas than in others, giving the viewer the impression that it is poised for expansion and that it will become a major collection globally.”
Jamal spoke of the importance of the collection in a broader sense, in that it offers a view of Muslim cultures that emphasises beauty, love and creativity, and provides audiences with a feeling for the enormous amount of diversity within Muslim heritage. "These pieces of artwork show Islam in a softer light than how it is often portrayed in contemporary media; art and life in Muslim societies and contexts is concerned with beauty and portraying that beauty through art."
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All images on this and the preceding page © Aga Khan Trust for Culture
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