The Ministry of Culture organizes an exhibition "Like the sun, it appears to the eyes from a distance" At the Louvre – Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, December 25 / WAM / Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and within the framework of the activities accompanying the ceremony honoring the winners of the “International Burda Award 2024”, in its eighteenth session, the Ministry of Culture organized an art exhibition entitled “Like the sun appearing to the eyes from a distance,” at the Louvre Museum – Abu Dhabi, and will continue until January 19, 2025.

The exhibition is a rich visual journey that extends over two decades and celebrates Islamic art throughout the ages, as it highlights the most prominent collections of the Ministry of Culture, including the artworks that won the Burda Award, which highlight the ability of Islamic art to blend traditional styles with contemporary innovations, which reflects the pioneering role of the UAE. In supporting arts and culture at the global level.

The exhibition focuses in particular on the concept of “light”, which explains the title of the exhibition and links to the core theme of this year’s Burda Award, which was inspired by Surat Al-Ma’idah, verse 15: “Certainly there has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.”

The exhibition takes visitors on a dazzling tour through more than 60 unique artworks in various artistic fields, including Arabic calligraphy, ornamentation, poetry, and contemporary art.

The exhibition is considered the result of the first edition of the “Al-Burda Grant” and the “Capacity Building Programme” and the fruit of cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the “Aga Khan Museum” in Toronto, Canada, within the framework of the memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides, where works that demonstrate the development of Islamic arts are displayed through… Time and place, from traditional works to contemporary interpretations.

His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture, said on this occasion that the exhibition “Like the Sun Appears to the Eyes from a Distance” is an exceptional opportunity to celebrate Islamic art and its development throughout the ages, and an affirmation of the UAE’s commitment and belief that art is a vital tool for promoting cultural dialogue between peoples. This is reflected in this exhibition, which is considered a living example of the interaction between tradition and innovation.

He added: “We are proud to be part of this distinctive artistic journey provided by the exhibition, which embodies how art influences the strengthening of communication between civilizations, and constitutes an opportunity to contemplate the light that Islamic art reflects across various generations. Art here is not just an expression of beauty, but rather a means To convey the spiritual and faith values ​​that lead humanity towards unity and brotherhood.

For his part, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, Chairman of the Environment and Climate Committee of the Aga Khan Development Network, who witnessed the opening ceremony of the exhibition, said that the Burdah Award ceremony and the accompanying exhibition, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of the award, highlight the importance of pluralism and the great potential of art and culture. In the rapprochement of peoples among themselves in order to establish peace and mutual understanding between countries.

The exhibition was coordinated by Emirati curators Fatima Al Mahmoud, Sarah Bin Safwan, and Sheikha Al Zaabi, along with the CEO of the Aga Khan Museum, Ulrika Al Khamees, to ensure the provision of an exceptional experience to encourage visitors to the exhibition to explore the historical development of Islamic art, as the exhibition brings together the past and the present.

The Burda Award represents a global platform that celebrates Islamic art, poetry and culture. It was launched by the Ministry of Culture in 2004, to honor the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace.

The exhibition is a tribute to the innovators in the Islamic artistic fields, who presented distinguished works focusing on the idea of ​​“light,” which represents the essence of the eighteenth edition, celebrates the twentieth anniversary of this award, and enhances the deep understanding of art as a means of spiritual communication.

The exhibition’s visitors’ journey begins in the “Archive Section,” which documents the development of the Burda Award over the past two decades, providing a visual historical perspective that displays photographs and video clips that shed light on the most prominent stages that the award has gone through since its inception, in addition to the participation of artists and creatives who contributed to the formation of The legacy of this award.

Then visitors move to the “Poetry Section,” which highlights the winning works from the various cycles of the Burda Award, as poetry is one of the basic pillars of the award since its inception, and presents a collection of poems in classical Arabic and Nabataean poetry that reflects the local dialect. The selected poems address the theme of “light” and celebrate the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, as a symbol of light and guidance.

As for the forum area on the lower floor of the exhibition, it is a place to explore the aesthetics of the noble ornament, which is a distinctive type of Arabic calligraphy, which highlights the qualities of the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace. This section also presents the stages of the development of the noble ornament and its importance in contemporary Islamic art.

The exhibition includes a group of distinguished works in the “The Holy Qur’an: Light upon Light” section, which focuses on Qur’anic chapters such as the surahs “The Star,” “The Most Merciful,” and “The Repentance,” where calligraphic works interact with decorative arts.

The section “The Noble Hadith and the Farewell Pilgrimage Sermon” displays artistic reflections that reflect the values ​​of unity, compassion, and spiritual guidance called for by the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, in addition to the “Poem of Burdah and Nahj al-Burdah” section celebrating classical Arabic poetry.

For contemporary art lovers, the upper back floor of the gallery includes works from the Burdah Collection, bringing together profound interpretations of Islamic art.

The work “Al Mald” by artist Ammar Al Attar, for example, represents a poignant experience as it combines still images and audio recordings of the Emirati’s “expressions of mald.” This section was designed to provide a meditative break that enhances the theme of word and art, where visual aesthetics blend with spiritual depth.

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