Thursday, 16 November 2006

JEDDAH: A lavish exhibition of Islamic arts that opened in Jeddah late on Tuesday aims to show the world a side of Islam that has been little publicized: art.

The expo, themed "Mosques to travel to," was inaugurated by Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammed Al Saud, head of the organizing committee, and Prince Abdullah Bin Fahd Bin Abdurrahman Al-Saud, Deputy to the Emir of Makkah for security affairs.

Art works by 17 Saudi, Arab and Muslim artists displayed various impressions of the three Holy Mosques - the Ka'ba in Makkah, the Prophet's Mosque in Madina, and the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem - as well as Haj and Umrah Rites depicted in pastel, to the accolades of hundreds of visitors and members of the media in Obroq Al-Rughama in eastern Jeddah.

The venue of the exhibition, the lavishly styled King Abdul Aziz Cultural Center, holds a special historical value to the Kingdom, in being the first place King Abdul Aziz stopped as he arrived in Jeddah during his campaign to unite the Kingdom 85 years ago.

"The main purpose of the exhibition is to show the world that we are all one," Prince Faisal told The Saudi Gazette. "Muslim artists today portray their very feel of the three Holy Mosques."

He said that art has always been an integral part of Islam and should be respected as such.

"Art is all about an artist conveying his feelings, and Islamic art is no different," said Prince Faisal. "Look at how dynamic those works of art are. This means that the message of Islam is eternal, and Makkah as the capital of Islam is eternal, and Haj represents the ultimate spiritual experience."

The goal of the exhibition goes beyond showing off Islamic artists' interpretations of the three holy cities to represent Muslim artists of common grounds, said Bahaa-uddin Al-Wardi, a physician, artist and historian.

"Young Muslims should cooperate artistically," said Wardi, "and to have doors opened for them to crystallize their passion and even seek financial help to show off their work."

He said opportunities like this one for young Muslim artists to interact will help them produce "authentic" Islamic art.

"We need such cooperation in art to produce some sort of unity among Muslims, even on political and global terms," he said. "We'd prefer to come across as artists rather than the terrorists that many make us out to be."

Zaki Bin Abboud, a renowned Saudi fashion designer, agreed.

"This is a good start in globalizing Islamic culture," she told The Saudi Gazette. "The artist is the owner of his or her original ideas, but it is the media that should play a role in showing our Islamic art to the world."

The art show presented the works of 17 artists from 13 countries, including Saudi Arabia, and will be open for three months.

By Shady N Janzeir

© The Saudi Gazette 2006