Plants of the Qur’ān

PA, Kew Gardens to host exhibitions exploring Islamic culture, 30 March 2023 Plants of the Qur’ān - Exhibition details here

Ramadan through Art

MyLondon, Designer capturing the beauty of Ramadan through art

"London-based digital designer Natasha Ahmed, is shining a light on the different ways Ramadan is observed by Muslims across the world ..."

Inspired by the East review

Guardian, Inspired by the East review – a glorious show Boris Johnson really ought to see apparently this is a magnificent show. Hope to see it.

Grayson Perry and The Ashford Hijab: White, Female & Muslim

sociologicalimagination.org, Grayson Perry and The Ashford Hijab: White, Female & Muslim "Grayson Perry’s new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery also presents a White British female convert to Islam. Who are you? depicts 14 modern day Britons and their complex identities. Kayleigh Khosravi, the subject of a silk screenprint with the title The Ashford Hijab, spent time with Grayson Perry in order for him to better understand her identity as a White Muslim convert." Also see the Channel4 Press Release

Conference; "The Umayyads: History, Art and Culture in the First Century of Islam"

"The Umayyads: History, Art and Culture in the First Century of Islam", University of Edinburgh, 24-25 June 2011 "The aim of the present conference is to revisit the Umayyad era – history, art and culture – in the light of recent research, and to stimulate reflection on the representation of this past in the modern world."

Sounds interesting. Please address any enquiries to the organisers (not myself!).

National Portrait Gallery appeal

Guardian, National Portrait Gallery launches appeal to keep freed slave's portrait, 8 Jul 2010 "A portrait of a freed African slave has gone on display for the first time at the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) as a £100,000 appeal is launched to keep it in the collection.

"The bright eyes of Ayuba Suleiman Diallo who had been a slave-owner and trader, are mesmerising gallery visitors, just as they did when he met King George II and leading intellectuals of the 1730s. Diallo translated Arabic documents and inscriptions for Sir Hans Sloane, whose collections would form the basis of the British Museum."

Also see NPG, Ayuba Suleiman Diallo - Appeal "This exceptional portrait has never been exhibited in public before. If acquired it would become a highlight of the Collection, attracting public attention as a work of aesthetic quality and historical interest. Diallo's story of personal resilience, dignity and faith when faced with enslavement, displacement and redemption at the hands of the British is richly evoked by this sensitive portrait. The portrait will offer the opportunity to explore some of the otherwise missing black and Islamic histories in the Collection and create a more sustained sense of connected British history and identity in the displays."

'Chasing Mirrors'

National Portrait Gallery, London, Studio Gallery, Chasing Mirrors, 9 October 2009-10 January 2010

"Chasing Mirrors is an exhibition of new work exploring alternative forms of self-representation and portraiture by contemporary artist Faisal Abdu’Allah and the Chasing Mirrors Collective, a group of young people from Arabic speaking communities in Brent, Barnet and Ealing."

I saw this recently, and found it a very interesting use of multimedia. It's worth catching if you are in London.

Islamic art and culture

Birmingham Mail, Muslim culture is celebrated in art, 5 Mar 09

"An exhibition embracing Muslim culture has opened in Birmingham to reach out to the city’s Islamic communities.

"Sadiq Khan MP, junior minister for Communities and Local Government, was on hand to unveil Journeys: A gallery trail exploring Muslim cultures at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery."

I'm trying to locate info at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery on this. Some details: Ulfah Arts: Islamic Trail