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Abu Dhabi: After drawing inspiration from the artefacts and artworks on display at the Hajj: Memories of a Journey exhibition, held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the engaging and interactive workshop programme at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque came to a close on 17th March.
Organised by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC) in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the final session of the Discovering Shapes and Abstractions in Mosque Designs workshop on 14th March helped young participants aged 8-12 years explore various designs seen in traditional mosque architecture, inviting them to create their own abstract masterpieces inspired by the striking symmetric designs found in early Islamic civilisation. On 17th March, the final session of the Make Your Own Astrolabe workshop invited young explorers aged 6-13 years to discover how early navigators travelled on their journey to Hajj with their own personalised astrolabes in the intricate manner that it was used in ancient times.
The diverse programme of workshops was designed to engage a broad spectrum of ages – from as young as five years old – from all segments of society with a view to highlighting the cultural richness of Islamic civilisation and the development of Islamic arts. Through the various activities and public programmes, the exhibition aimed to transfer expertise and knowledge, emphasising the cultural values that flourished during the various stages of Islamic civilisation. This worked in line with the efforts and initiatives of the SZGMC, as it bolsters its position as a global cultural attraction that millions of people visit each year from different parts of the world.
The Hajj: Memories of a Journey exhibition celebrates the rich legacy of the spiritual journey of Hajj to the Sacred House of God in Mecca, through the display of more than 182 artefacts on loan from a range of institutions, as well as donations of personal Hajj memorabilia. The exhibition is organised by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, on the 10th anniversary of its opening, in collaboration with DCT Abu Dhabi. It will draw to a close on 19th March 2018.
For more information, follow via the hashtag #HajjExhibition on Twitter and @szgmc_ae on Instagram. For further details, please visit www.szgmc.ae or call 02 4191919.
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ABOUT DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND TOURISM – ABU DHABI
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction, which enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The organisation manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. TCA Abu Dhabi supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key role is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.
SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE CENTER
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, under the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, is sponsored and monitored by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and was established to be the Center of the cultural and intellectual movement focused around the Mosque. Its vision and mission was created from the cultural and national values preserved and nurtured by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God rest his soul). These cultural values are still deeply-rooted in the consciousness of the people and are an extension of the national identity inspired by the teachings of the Nation’s religion.
© Press Release 2018
