Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the asset development arm of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), will bring some of the world’s finest Islamic art to the UAE capital next year.

A selection of works from the renowned Khalili collection will go on display for the first time in the Middle East at the Exhibition Hall in the Emirates Palace Hotel from January 23.

The exhibition, themed ‘Truly God Is Beautiful And Truly Loves All’ is being held under the patronage of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
 
‘The Arts of Islam: Treasures from the Nasser D Khalili Collection’ will comprise over 500 pieces and include a number of works never shown before, such as an exquisitely detailed panoramic watercolour of Makkah, painted in 1843, which is the earliest known visual record of the Holy City.

“This is an exhibition of international acclaim and its staging is in line with our ambition of establishing the UAE capital as a global cultural centre,” said chairman of ADTA, TDIC and the Abu Dhabi Authority For Culture & Heritage, Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan.

“The staging of this exhibition, and others to follow in the months and years to come, will assist in raising regional awareness of the fine arts and nurturing a cultural psyche which will culminate in the creation, in Abu Dhabi, of the world’s largest cluster of cultural assets,” he added.

Abu Dhabi is on its way to becoming a global cultural destination with the creation of the Cultural District on Saadiyat Island, which will be home to the Shaikh Zayed National Museum, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi modern and contemporary arts museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi universal museum, a maritime museum, performing arts centre and cluster of arts pavilions. 

“The Nasser D. Khalili collection of Islamic Art has been praised by Britain’s Independent newspaper as a means of ‘Healing the world with art,” said director general, ADTA and managing director, TDIC, Mubarak Al Muhairi.

Part of the celebrated Khalili Collections, assembled since 1970 by Iranian scholar, collector and benefactor Professor Nasser D. Khalili, under the auspices of the Khalili Family Trust, the Islamic Collection comprises over 20,000 works and is the world’s largest and most comprehensive, encompassing the entire history of the art of Islamic lands from its 7th century beginnings until the present day.

The exhibition will present both the religious and secular arts of Islam through a series of themes, including: the development of arts associated with Holy Quran manuscripts, especially calligraphy; arts associated with pilgrimage, everyday and treasury objects, miniature painting and carpets and textiles.

Other themes will focus on the talismanic use of Holy Quran verses, science in the service of religion, equestrianism, falconry and interaction with Europe.

A fully illustrated catalogue, published in both Arabic and English, will accompany the exhibition and a symposium, a series of lectures and other educational programmes are also planned.

The exhibition is part of a cycle of international temporary exhibitions which are central to Abu Dhabi’s arts strategy of preparing its audience for the future developments on Saadiyat Island’s Cultural District. – TradeArabia News Service