USA: Beauty and Belief | Muslim art on display at BYU

"It was amazing how many times people found the same values in the Mormon traditions and culture also in (Islamic culture). We aspire to similar things. Many times, my Mormon colleagues are quoting things to me directly from Mormon scripture that directly correspond with what these pieces are about."

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch |
Source/Credit: BYU - Beauty and Belief
By Beauty and Belief | March 12, 2012

This is a fabulous opportunity for any who will be in the area.

The largest traveling survey exhibition of Islamic art ever assembled in the United States will be at Brigham Young University's (BYU) Museum of Art from February 24 to September 29, 2012.

“Beauty and Belief: Crossing Bridges with the Arts of Islamic Culture,” is under the direction of Dr. Sabiha Al Khemir, a Tunisian native and world-renowned writer, artist and expert in Islamic art.  The exhibition features more than 250 objects from 10 countries, 42 lending institutions and 10 private collections.

As part of the exhibition, visitors will explore both masterpieces and modest works dating from the 7th century to the present. Displays in an interactive educational pavilion will help visitors of all ages understand the differences between Islamic and Western art.

“The exhibition will show the connection between the work of the artist and the act of devotion,” Al Khemir said. “I hope as visitors interact with the displays and discover new ways of seeing, they will leave with a new understanding of the Islamic culture.”

“As a visitor looks at these objects, they are not just going to see pretty patterns and … nice decorations,” she said. “They are also going to sense that strong devotion to beautifying, to putting something in the world that is connected to the greater source of creation, because the artist did not see himself as the creator—the creator is something much bigger.”

Planned since 2008, the project began when Dr. Sabiha Al Khemir, a Tunisian native and world-renowned writer, artist and expert in Islamic art, proposed the idea to bring a collaborative exhibition to the university. The exhibit, which features more than 250 pieces from ten countries runs Feb. 24 to Sept. 29, 2012. Admission to the exhibition is free.

As visitors move step-by-step through the exhibit, a progression helps them appreciate and understand Islamic culture by starting with simpler pieces and ending with those more complex.  The exhibit is organized by themes, such as one of the Prophet Muhammad’s sayings—“God is beautiful and He loves beauty.”

Al Khemir said, “Islamic art is multilayered.  It is full of detail.  The closer you look, the more you see.  So the exhibition invites you to look closely in the hope that sight leads to insight and that you will leave with a new understanding of Islamic culture.”

Working on the projects, the museum staff was amazed by the connections they found between Islam and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, even down to the architecture.  "It was amazing how many times people found the same values in the Mormon traditions and culture also in (Islamic culture)," said Al Khemir. "We aspire to similar things. Many times, my Mormon colleagues are quoting things to me directly from Mormon scripture that directly correspond with what these pieces are about."

"One of the great privileges of working on the exhibition is becoming aware of the significant community of Muslims in the West and in Utah," said Mike Magleby, director of the museum.  "It's a great opportunity to get to know neighbors we haven't formally known as well as we should."

BYU is operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whose members are commonly called “Mormons”.

BYU is in Provo, Utah which is about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.

For information visit the website, http://beautyandbelief.byu.edu/  or call (801)422-8287.


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