Canvas Education launches 'Introduction to Islamic Art' - its fifth seminar in the region

Over three days of seminars conducted by leading authorities on the subject, art enthusiasts will have the opportunity to learn more about early Arab civilisations, Islamic arts and crafts and traditional and modern Arabic calligraphy.

The seminar will take place from 14-16 June 2008 at the Emirates Palace hotel, Abu Dhabi and is supported by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage and Sorouh.

Introduction to Islamic Art will be broken down into three distinct days of unique lectures.

Day 1 - Introduction to Islamic Art: Arab Civilisations
World-renowned experts from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and the Université de Paris will lay the foundations for understating the meaning of Islamic art, reveal the zenith of art and architecture from the Umayyad and Abbasid periods and explain the foundations of Islamic archaeology in the Gulf.

Day 2 - The Reach of Islam: Arts and Crafts
Lecturers from the Nasser D Khalili Collection, Sotheby's and the Islamic Art Journal will offer insight into the art of the Kiswa, the cloth covering of the Ka'bah, the tradition of ceramics and metalwork, illustrated literature from the region and the trends and history of Islamic collecting.

Day 3 - Calligraphy: From Traditional to Modern
Authorities from the region as well as international institutions such as the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, take on the historical value and resurgence of calligraphy. Highlights include the aesthetics and moral traditions behind the practice, its role in amulets and protection and a workshop demonstrating the basic rules, tools and materials.

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Canvas Magazine, Ali Khadra said, 'After receiving encouraging feedback from the Introduction to Modern and Contemporary Art seminar last January, we trust this is the perfect time to invest in the appreciation of the tradition and historical significance of Islamic art. With the resurgence of calligraphy and geometric art in modern works, this seminar is the perfect starting point for art collectors and enthusiasts to cultivate their passion'.

He added, 'We are especially pleased with the lecturers, who are renowned experts from respected institutions such as Dr Ernst J Grube from the Islamic Art Journal, Dr Doris Behrens-Abouseif of the SOAS and Dr Venetia Porter from the British Museum amongst other top international specialists'.