Dubai, October 12, 2016

Islamic art and its varying forms in architecture and calligraphy have reached the far corners of the world. At the Global Islamic Economy Summit held at Madinat Jumeirah, a diverse panel discussed the relevance of Islamic art in the modern world.

Emirati architect and founder of X Architects, Ahmed-Al Ali spoke about his experience developing projects that will be built for the future generations but utilize the knowledge brought down from history.

“We translate the dreams and the philosophies of people living into the physical environment to build structures that inspire the generations to come,” said Ali.

Presenting his upcoming projects to the audience, Ali showcased a new development in the desert that focuses on the natural elements of the environment to build sustainable and ecofriendly housing concepts and also impressed the panel with a design of a futuristic mosque that is depicted to look like the historically and religiously relevant Jabal-al-Noor mountain.

Carol Bier, Scholar for Islamic Studies and Islamic Geometry in the USA, talked about the importance of making meaning out of art and presenting Islamic art to the non-Muslim world to understand the true meaning of Islamic heritage.

Brier noted, “Art helps bridge gaps, and Islamic art bridges understanding not just between Muslims and Non-Muslims but also shapes the identity of people in the western world with Islamic heritage but no true knowledge of it.”

Globally renowned calligrapher, Haji Noor Deen Mi Guang Jiang presented his award winning calligraphy that fused the Arabic and Chinese languages to form meaningful religious text. The audience was inspired by the shared beauty of both cultures and how they can symbolize peace and unity in the Islamic world.

“You use art to express beauty and as a conservative man with Islamic values, my art conforms to the principles of Islam. Having presented all over the world, my collections reflect Muslim peoples’ aspirations for harmony and co-existence.”

Presenting global examples of the reach of Islamic architecture, Eric Broug, educator and author of Islamic geometry and design expressed his fascination for structures such as the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Center in Kuwait, KAPSARC Mosque in Riyadh and the Islamic Pavilion in Amsterdam.

When asked by the moderator, Peter Gould, Founder of Peter Gould Art, about the relevance of Islamic art disrupting the widespread western negativity surrounding Islamic culture, the panelists all agreed that art brings people together and presents the positivity and beauty of a culture.

“As a Muslim, I’m created for two purposes: worship Allah and contribute to the Earth. The early Muslims built a grand civilization, whose legacy we have till today, and explains the philosophy of Islam. There is an emotional connection between our religion and our art,” noted Ahmed-Al Ali.

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© Press Release 2016