His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated ‘Eternal Letters: From the Abdul Rahman Al Owais Islamic Calligraphy Collection’ exhibition at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization. The exhibit, which continues until September 26, includes more than 90 Islamic calligraphy artworks representing some of the most important eras in Islamic history.
HH Dr Sheikh Sultan toured the exhibit with His Excellency Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development; Manal Ataya, Director General, Sharjah Museums Department; and several senior government representatives.
HH Dr Sheikh Sultan expressed his personal interest in Islamic calligraphy and the revival of Islamic art, and encouraged local and regional calligraphers to continue the spirit and tradition of their forebears.
HE Al Owais said: “I would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi for his unstinting support of the arts, culture and heritage, which has had a significant impact on the UAE’s cultural infrastructure. This exhibition is another example of his patronage.â€
“Islamic calligraphy has always occupied a special place in Arab civilization and culture, and has been acclaimed around the world for its aesthetic and expressive nature,†he added. “It is creative, precise and has the same aesthetic value as many of the great masterpieces.â€
Manal Ataya said: “Arabic calligraphy has always been intimately linked with Arab and Islamic culture and architecture. It immortalizes Arab Islamic civilization not only with its linguistic value but also for its aesthetic one. We are confident this exhibition will be a common ground for different calligraphers to exchange knowledge and perspective.â€
“Calligraphy is a universal language and has played an important role in defining the Islamic civilization. It is key to the memories and cultural heritage of our nations,†she added.
‘Eternal letters: from the Abdul Rahman Al Owais Islamic Calligraphy Collection’ includes Islamic calligraphy artworks from the 9th century, characterized by the Kufic script. It also takes in calligraphy from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, when calligraphy played an important role in the history of art, and the 19th century, often considered the aesthetic peak of Islamic calligraphy.
Dr. Irvin Cemil Schick, a renowned professor in Arabic calligraphy, will give a lecture on “Aesthetics and Islamic Calligraphy†at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization on Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 pm. The lecture is being held under the patronage of H.E. Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais. Additional information on the lecture and the exhibition is available at the museum’s website, www.islamicmuseum.ae.
The Sharjah Museums Department, established in 2006 by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, aims to promote the emirate’s rich legacy of arts, heritage and culture. For more information on the Sharjah Museums Department, please visit www.sharjahmuseums.ae.
About Sharjah Museums Department
The Sharjah Museums Department was established in 2006 by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, as an independent government department that aims to deliver the highest quality of museums for the people of Sharjah and all its visitors, through its facilities, exhibitions, and programmes of learning, research and community outreach.
Sharjah Museums have over 17 sites in Sharjah that cover the arts, Islamic culture, archeology, science, aquariums, heritage and natural history of Sharjah and the region
