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About the Exhibition About the Exhibition Beauty and Belief: Crossing Bridges with the Arts of Islamic Culture is a journey through Islamic visual culture from the seventh century onward, including works by contemporary artists. It features over 250 objects from 41 lenders in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East—objects that would have been at home in royal palaces as well as in the everyday lives of common people. Some of the works of art have never been seen in the United States, and it is the first time that all of these objects meet in one place. After the exhibition concludes at BYU it will travel to three other venues: Indianapolis Museum of Art, November 2, 2012 – January 13, 2013 Newark Museum, February 13, 2013 – May 19, 2013 Portland Art Museum, June 15, 2013 – September 8, 2013 This exhibition is supported by a major grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services, and grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional foundations and private donors who have generously contributed to Beauty and Belief include: Jack and Mary Lois Wheatley and the Wheatley family, John and Stephanie Sorensen, King and Diane Husein, Don Bailey and Leslie Stanford, the R. Harold Burton Foundation, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Stephen A. and Martha Alice Sears West, the Laycock Center for Creative Collaboration in the Arts, the College of Fine Arts and Communications at Brigham Young University, the Semnani Family Foundation, the Lawrence T. and Janet T. Dee Foundation, William and Patricia Child, the Utah Office of Museum Services, Dr. Omar M. and Dr. Nancy S. Kader, and the many donors who have contributed to the ongoing operations of the Brigham Young University Museum of Art. 1 Gallery Themes* The Project Director Dr. Sabiha Al Khemir’s choice of themes in each of the galleries is key to understanding the message of the exhibition. The concepts of the three main sections—The Word, Figures and Figurines, and Pattern—are interconnected throughout the belief system of the Islamic world. The same aesthetic and cultural principles govern all three categories of Islamic art. In fact, they are often intertwined, with calligraphy taking figurative shape and figures becoming decorative patterns. Leading from one section to another in the galleries are “bridges,” highlighting objects that reveal the word, figures, and patterns in fascinating combinations. Introduction The Word ® The Word Omnipresent ® The Word in Architectural Space ® The Voice of the Object à Healing and Protection à Timeless Wisdom Bridge from Calligraphy to Figurative Figures and Figurines ® In the Fabric of Everyday Life ® The Entertaining Didactic ® Creatures of the Imagination ® The Mystical Bridge from Figurative to Pattern Pattern ® Timeless Garden ® Arabesque ® Geometry ® The Word ® A Rhythm of Repetition ® No Beginning No End *The following material is derived largely from Dr. Al Khemir’s Beauty and Belief exhibition catalogue 2 The Islamic World: A Vast Expanse “Beauty and Belief invites visitors to a world of a wondrous beauty that spills across the centuries in an expression from one of humanity’s great civilizations.” –Sabiha Al Khemir The revelation of the Qur’an took place in Arabia starting in 610 CE. By 715 the map of the Muslim world spread west to Europe and east to Asia. The magnitude of the geographical scale of the Islamic world, spanning continents, reflects the rich diversity embraced by Islamic Culture. Venice XINJIANG Pisa Black Sea THRACE Caspian TRANSOXIANA CAUCASUS Sea Istanbul Tashkent Iznik Baku Toledo Bursa Ankara Sivas Erzurum Valencia Bukhara Samarkand CENTRAL Ushak Kayseri ANATOLIA Cordoba Palermo Tabrīz Diyarbakir ASIA Seville Konya Takht-i Suleyman Granada SICILY Mary Algiers Tunis Mosul Qazvin Damghan Aleppo MESOPOTAMIA Tehran Mashhad Balkh Kairouan Raqqa Tlemcen Samarra Rayy Varamin Nishapur Fez Herat Mediterranean Sea Beirut Baghdad Sultanabad Kashan Kabul Rabat Ghazni Tripoli Damascus Ardestan Peshawar Meknes MAGHREB KHORASAN Amman Kufa Isfahan Yazd Islamabad Marrakesh Jerusalem Basra Kerman Lahore SAHARA Cairo Jingdezhen Kuwait Shiraz New Delhi Agra Persian Medina Riyadh Gulf Karachi Gulf of Oman Muscat Mecca ARABIA Red Sea Arabian Sea Timbuktu DECCAN Khartoum San’a Aden Gulf of Aden Harar Abuja Kuala Lumpur Mogadishu Jakarta 3 Timeline of Key Events in the Islamic World 691 The Dome of the Rock is built in Jerusalem, commemorating the location where Muhammad ascended to heaven. The structure shows strong Byzantine influence in plan and style, but the use of Arabic inscription marks a signicant shi. This monument becomes very important for Muslims. 630 1232–1492 Nasrid Dynasty 1501-1722 Safavid Dynasty Muhammad and 10,000 909–1171 Fatimid Dynasty Muslims take control of 785 Granada survives as the last Islamic city in Spain. Following The Safavid Dynasty becomes a dominant power through- 19th Century Mecca, making it the The Great Mosque at Cordoba is built in Spain From Tunisia, the Fatimids conquer Egypt in 969. Cairo the gradual fragmenting of Muslim presence by Christian out Persia, and Isfahan thrives as a center of architectural Many European countries occupy and colonize claims spiritual center of Islam and and becomes a crowning achievement of is established as a cultural capital in the Islamic world and rulers, it falls to Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492. opulence. in Africa, seizing control over national resources and key re-dedicating the Ka’bah to Islamic architecture. This mosque is known the Fatimid Dynasty oversees an empire that dominates ports. France maintains a heavy presence in Algeria, the worship of God. All for its vast interior polychrome arches. North Africa. Tunisia, Senegal, and Lebanon; Britain is involved in Muslims pray facing the Egypt, India, and Sudan; Italy invades Libya; and Spain direction of this cube- takes over parts of Morocco. c. 570 shaped building built by Muhammad the Prophet is born. Abraham, and are advised to Muhammad is a merchant by trade 715 1095 make a pilgrimage to this 1550-1558 known for his skills in diplomacy. The Great Mosque of Damascus The Crusades begin as a campaign by Christian holy site. The Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, is is constructed, one of the ear- military powers to re-capture the holy sites in built by Sinan, the greatest architect of the liest examples of monumental Jerusalem. A series of crusades continues throughout 20th Century Ottoman Empire. The large domes, supported religious architecture in the the 12th and 13th centuries, exposing Westerners to Beginning with Egypt in 1922, several Middle Eastern 970 by half domes, are modeled aer Hagia Sophia, Islamic world. It employs a court the culture of the Middle East. Many commodities, countries gain independence and eject Western ruling The Al-Ashar Mosque and University 1237-1492 the great Byzantine church built by Emperor and hypostyle prayer hall, which including textiles and spices, ignite trade networks 1648 forces: Turkey (1923), Iraq (1932), Saudi Arabia (1932), c. 610 is built by the Fatimids in Cairo. It is one of The Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain is built Justinian in the 6th century. Lebanon (1943), Jordan (1946), Syria (1946), Libya (1951), become the standard for the oldest continuously run universities in between Europe and the Near East. by Nasrid rulers. The fortied palace is known for Mughal emperor Shah Jahan constructs the Muhammad begins receiving divine mosque architecture. Taj Mahal as a mauseoleum in memory of his wife Tunisia (1956), Kuwait (1961), Algeria (1962), and the revelation and preaches monotheism, the the world and is acclaimed for its its interior stucco, intricately detailed tilework, United Arab Emirates (1971). scholarship in Islamic law and Arabic and numerous gardens and fountains. Mumtaz Mahal. The striking white marble makes belief that there is only one God. These it a distinctive structure in the Islamic world. revelations comprise the Qur’an, the holy studies. book of scripture for Muslims. 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 661–750 Umayyad Dynasty 909–1171 Fatimid Dynasty 1232–1492 Nasrid Dynasty 1501-1722 Safavid Dynasty 711–1031 Umayyad Dynasty in Spain 1071-1194 Seljuks in Power 1250–1517 Mamluk Dynasty 1526–1858 Mughal Empire 750–1258 Abbasid Dynasty 1299-1922 Ottoman Empire 1206-1368 Mongol Empire 1370-1506 Timurid Dynasty 622 Following religious persecution, Muhammad 711–1031 Umayyad Dynasty in Spain 1071-1194 Seljuks in Power 1206-1368 Mongol Empire 1370-1506 Timurid Dynasty and his followers leave the 1526–1858 Mughal Empire A young Umayyad prince escapes the Abbasid massacre of the royal The Seljuks defeat Byzantine armies in Eastern In 1258, Genghis Khan leads Mongol invasions Of Turko-Mongolian origin; led by Timur (Tamerlane), city of Mecca to settle in family in Damascus. He travels across North Africa and re-establishes Turkey and maintain power in Iran and parts of into Iran and Iraq, destroying Baghdad, they take over the whole of Central Asia, Iran, The Mughal Empire rules the Indian subcontinent, resulting Medina. Muhammad the Umayyad Dynasty in Spain, bringing Islamic influence to the Anatolia through the year 1194. Islamic influence terminating lingering Abbasid power, and present day Afghanistan, parts of India, Mesopota- in flourishing art and architectural commissions from the gathers followers from Iberian Peninsula. extends westward due to Seljuk expansion into inaugurating cultural exchange with East Asia. mia and the Caucasus. Timur’s capital Samarkand royal court. Despite fluctuating conflicts and alliances with surrounding cities and territories formerly ruled by Christian forces. Mongol leader Kazan converts to Islam in 1295, flourishes under great patronage of arts and Hindu Rajput kingdoms, Mughal art reflects a merging of subsequently defeats making it the ocial religion of the Empire. architecture. Timur's son Shah Rukh (1405-47) native and Islamic artistic traditions. Meccan armies.
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