The Inspiration of Islamic Art

The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is holding their annual summer camp from July 3 - July 5, 2012. The topic is The Inspiration of Islamic Art.

Participants will enjoy activities inspired by the designs of British artist Owen Jones (1809-74), whose explorations of Islamic design contributed to the reshaping of the 19th century British design. The program includes fun and inspiring activities such as drawing, painting, acting and more.

'Owen Jones: Islamic design, Discovery and Visions' is an exhibition organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and currently hosted by the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization.

For more information or booking call the musem at 06 565 5455 or email aalali@islamicmuseum.ae.

ADMAF REVIVES TRADITIONAL ISLAMIC ARTS WITH UNIQUE WORKSHOPS BY THE PRINCE’S SCHOOL OF TRADITIONAL ARTS

Traditional Islamic arts and crafts were the focus of attention at educational institutions across Abu Dhabi recently through a series of workshops organised by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF). The initiative, which was the first of its kind held in the Gulf region, highlighted the richness of these traditional practices, encouraging creativity, spreading knowledge and establishing building blocks to inspire future Emirati artists.

The workshops provided a platform for young students to reconnect with an important part of their cultural heritage. They were organised in cooperation with the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, founded by HRH The Prince of Wales and the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC).

Facilitators from the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in the UK worked with 260 students over a period of two weeks to explore geometric designs and patterns from nature applied to traditional Islamic Art. The workshops were held under two general themes: “Introduction to Traditional Islamic Design” and “Patterns from Abu Dhabi”. They were organised as part of ADMAF’s comprehensive educational programme, which seeks to provide young national talent with the tools to realize their potential in the fields of arts and culture.

Students from the Applied Media and Graphic Design Programmes of the Higher Colleges of Technology- Women’s College in Abu Dhabi and the Graphic Design and Web Design Programmes of Zayed University participated in the first workshops, which provided guidance on construction methods for geometric patterns and biomorphic motifs, both of which have traditionally governed all aspects of Islamic art. After exploring the close relationship between nature and Islamic art, the students created the design for a prayer rug or a Mihrab, inspired by natural environment of Abu Dhabi.

The “Patterns from Abu Dhabi” workshops introduced students from the Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls, the British School- Al Khubairat and the Al Shohub School for Girls to simple geometric designs found in the mud forts of Abu Dhabi and their connection to the order of nature. The students studied symmetry and pattern in nature and were given an opportunity to create their own design using activities suited to various ages and abilities including stencilling, printing, painting and drawing.

Mrs. Hoda Al Khamis Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, said, “Islamic arts heritage is one of our most valuable treasures and could be lost if serious effort is not put into passing it onto the new generation. The traditional arts and crafts workshops we organised and supported in Abu Dhabi aimed to ensure that this important part of our culture is preserved. These workshops add another dimension to ADMAF’s educational activities, which seek to not only spread knowledge on modern art but also to revive Islamic arts and inspire new talent for the future.”

The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts was founded in 2004 by HRH The Prince of Wales as one of his core charities. It specializes in teaching, researching and promoting creativity, practice and theory of the arts and crafts of the world’s great traditions.

About ADMAF:
The Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation seeks to nurture the arts, education, culture and creativity for the benefit of society and the advancement of Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision. Established in 1996 by Her Excellency Mrs Hoda Al Khamis Kanoo, ADMAF is a not-for-profit organisation under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

ADMAF’s broad programme of initiatives and events - including the Abu Dhabi Festival and the International Comic Strip & Cartoon Art Festival among many others - brings together audiences of all ages and nationalities. Through its educational and community programs, it nurtures the creative talent of the UAE and beyond, in partnership with leading national and international institutions.

Visit www.admaf.org

The Holy Quran exhibition features manuscripts from the 3rd century AH

Featuring rare and important Quranic manuscripts from the 3rd to the 13th century AH, the exhibition offers visitors a unique insight into the art of copying the Holy Book through the history of Islam.

Emilie Faure, Collection and Exhibitions Manager of The Farjam Collection, comments “Quranic manuscripts and the art forms with which the word of God was recorded played a crucial role in the history of Islamic arts. Talented calligraphers and craftsmen, including papermakers, bookbinders and illuminators expressed their artistic virtuosity and devotion by producing Qurans of the highest quality.”

The Qurans on display include leaves in Kufic script on parchment, a scroll containing the entire Quran, as well as a line for the Baysunqur Quran dating back to the 9th AH. Related items such as a prayer rug, a book holder, and pieces from the Kaaba curtain will also be on view.

Emilie Faure, continues “we will also be offering a variety of educational materials and programmes to allow for a wide range of audiences to engage with the arts of calligraphy and illumination. A guided tour of the exhibition will take place on Wednesday, 2 September from 1:00 – 1:30pm as part of our usual First Wednesdays series. Our school programmes, specifically designed for children, will launch on October 19 from 10:00am – 12pm. We are very excited about the opportunity to share these important Qurans with the community.”

The Farjam Collection is open: Sunday to Thursday, 10am to 8pm; Saturday 12pm to 8pm.

All exhibitions and programmes are free and open to the public.

The Farjam Collection
The Farjam Collection is one of the finest privately-owned Islamic art collections in the world today. Spanning almost the entire history of Islam, it brings together items produced throughout the vast region between Andalusia and Mughal India. Its treasures include Quranic manuscripts, miniatures and illustrated books on science, mathematics and poetry, as well as finely-decorated metalwork, lacquer, glasswork, tiles, glazed pottery, woodwork, textiles, coins, jewellery, carpets and art from the 13th century AH.

Illustrative of Farhad Farjam’s interests wide ranging affinities and tastes, the collection also includes works by major masters such as Picasso, Chagall, Dali, Braque, Renoir, Matisse, Miro, Leger, and Giacometti, as well as modern and contemporary artists including Warhol, Basquiat, de Kooning, Calder, Moshiri, Ehsai, Tanavoli, Al Rais, and Moustafa.

The Farjam Collection @ DIFC
The Farjam Collection @ DIFC showcases a rotating series of exhibitions drawn from the Farjam Collection. A programme of educational events free and open to the public offers audiences the opportunity to learn more about the works on view and the context in which these were produced.
Please visit www.farjamcollection.com for updates on events at The Farjam Collection @ DIFC.
The Farjam Collection @ DIFC is generously supported by the Hafiz Foundation.

The Hafiz Foundation
The Hafiz Foundation was founded in 2008 to support outstanding initiatives within the visual arts, with a special emphasis on the greater Middle East. With the city of Dubai as its base, the Foundation aims to become a centre for production, preservation, and promotion of the arts at large. At the heart of the Foundation’s goals is the development of educational opportunities for young Middle Eastern artists, students, scholars, curators, and art enthusiasts. As a partner to both local and international cultural initiatives, the Foundation’s recent activities include having supported the founding of the award-winning Middle Eastern arts magazine Bidoun, support for local arts education programs, as well as the organization of a series of exhibitions displaying selected works from The Farjam Collection.