Exhibition of world's finest Islamic art treasures marks UAE capital's international arts circuit 'Arrival'

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the exhibition is the first showing in the Middle East of the art works which are drawn from the substantial holdings of the renowned Khalili collection.

The "Arts of Islam"exhibition, which was inspired by the saying "Truly God is Beautiful and loves all beauty" -runs at Gallery One in the Emirates Palace until April 22nd, 2008.

"The staging of this magnificent exhibition sets the tone of Abu Dhabi's cultural ambitions as defined by Their Highnesses Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan," said His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage and Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC).

"This is a physical demonstration of our determination to transform the UAE capital into a global cultural centre and a major step forward in what will be a sustained educational programme aimed at nurturing a national awareness of arts appreciation and encouraging a new stream of career development for Emiratis."

The 'Arts of Islam: Treasures of the Khalili Collection' exhibition is designed by Colin Morris Associates, London. It is divided into two main sections - the religious and the secular. It comprises over 500 pieces of art in eight zones covering: Islam, the Holy Qur'an, Prayer and Pilgrimage; Science and Learning; Adaption and Renewal - the early Islamic period; The Splendour of Baghdad - the medieval period; Phoenix Rising - the Mongols, Ilkhanids, Mamluks and Timurids and The Age of Empires - Ottomans, Safavids, Mughals and Qajars.

The finest in textiles, pottery, carpets, books, jewels, paintings, metalware, glassware and calligraphy will be exhibited

"This is an inclusive exhibition," said Sheikh Sultan. "It's appeal will not only be to followers of the Muslim faith, but to all within the UAE, the Middle East and the world who wish to gain a greater understanding of the history of Islam and the treasures it has influenced."

The Khalili collection of Islamic Art, which has been praised by Britain's Independent newspaper as a means of 'Healing The World With Art,' includes masterpieces from the 7th to the 20th century.

"The exhibition illustrates the breadth of artistic achievement in the Islamic world and also reflects its geographic diversity," said Professor Nasser D. Khalili, Iranian scholar, collector and benefactor who assembled the collection under the auspices of the Khalili Family Trust. "It showcases exquisite treasures from a broad spectrum of media from as far east as China, India and Iran, across the Middle East to North Africa and Spain.

"The works on display have been specifically chosen to illustrate the development of Islam's rich artistic heritage over a period of some 1400 years. The subjects covered include religion, science, poetry, literature, calligraphy, painting and architecture, in addition to the decorative arts.

"The religious section explores art made to honour the majesty of God and his word, the Holy Qu'ran, and to meet the requirements of the religion. The secular section presents the arts made to serve the needs of the sovereign and ruling classes. The display follows a broadly chronological path within each section, with objects from the various regions of the Islamic world displayed side-by-side, clearly demonstrating the unifying characteristics of Islamic art on the one hand, and its distinctive regional variations on the other. The development of the Islamic style through the ages and the great achievements of Muslim artists - both technical and artistic - are illustrated through some of the most magnificent examples of Islamic art to survive."

The exhibition has already won wide acclaim during showings in major international cities, such as Sydney, Australia and Prof. Khalili said Abu Dhabi is a "highly appropriate" host for the collection's Middle East debut.

"The UAE capital is fast becoming internationally recognised as a strong and highly efficient proponent of the arts," he said. "The staging of this exhibition owes much to the personal support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan and the TDIC sponsorship."

Abu Dhabi is on its way to becoming a global cultural centre with the creation of the Cultural District on Saadiyat Island, the 27 square kilometre island lying 500 metres offshore the UAE capital and which is being transformed into a signature cultural and leisure destination. The island will be home to the largest single cluster of world-class cultural assets including the Sheikh Zayed National Museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi modern and contemporary museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi universal museum, a performing arts centre, maritime museum and arts pavilions.

"Professor Khalili is an established world figure in the domain of Islamic art," said Lee Tabler, CEO, TDIC. "His academic contributions to understanding Islamic culture are significant and his collection is among the best in the world. It was natural for us to seek him out and establish a personal relationship. We sent a team to Australia to see his exhibition there and decided that the exhibition will be an ideal first step towards anchoring the Cultural District in its Islamic tradition."

An educational programme of symposiums, lectures by international experts on Islamic arts, crafts and archaeology themes and workshops will accompany the exhibition beginning on January 23, 2008, when seven of the world's most eminent Islamic art experts will address a gathering of 700 invited guests for a one-day symposium.

"The sheer calibre of symposium speaker sets the tone for what Abu Dhabi is aspiring to - that is partnering with world-class authorities to share expertise and build a knowledge base for the ultimate benefit of all," said Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage (ADACH).

The education programme also includes an 'Arts Of Islam Education Room' at Emirates Palace which features learning tools, publications and computer-based educational materials. Guided tours of the exhibition will be available for school and university student groups, community clubs and individuals.

"The Arts of Islam Education Programme aims to engage the visiting public more closely with the compelling themes and unique artefacts on display in the exhibition. The programme will be open to adults and children alike," added Nusseibeh.

The Arts of Islam' exhibition inspired by "Truly God is Beautiful and loves all beauty" runs at Emirates Palace from 10am until 10pm daily. Each Tuesday the exhibition will be open exclusively to women from 10am-4pm.

A fully illustrated catalogue, published in Arabic and English, will accompany the exhibition. Visitors are requested, at their discretion, to make an entrance fee donation with proceeds going to Arts program of the Emirates Foundation - a philanthropic organisation based in Abu Dhabi which was created with a vision of implementing strategic projects that benefit the UAE nation, particularly the country's youth.