WASHINGTON – Unique collections and thousands of treasured masterpieces of artworks rooted in the spirit of Islam are stealing limelight at the heart of the US capital, in a celebration of the spirituality and diversity of the arts of the Islamic world stretching from Morocco to Iran.
"It is not a very large collection, not like the one in the British Museum for example, but in terms of quality it is one of the best in the world," Massumeh Farhad, chief of Islamic art at the Freer and Sackler Galleries at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, told IslamOnline.net.
About 5000 pieces of rare Islamic artworks are on display in the permanent exhibition of Islamic Art in the Freer Gallery, attracting a large audience whether from Americans or tourists visiting the world-famous museum complex.
Farhad says the pieces were brought together from across continents over decades.
"Works of Islamic art have been part of the Freer since its interception in 1921."
The pieces are now put in one major exhibition that steals light at the prestigious complex and celebrates deferent civilizations all shared one predominant faith, Islam.
The exhibitors affirm that the collection represents all forms of Islamic arts that ever existed.
"It covers everything, ceramics, metalwork, glass, woodwork, and architecture."
Visitors get a chance to see many forms of artwork, from brass bowls and candlesticks from Iraq and Syria to ancient folios of the Noble Qur’an from Turkey.
There are also earthenware and ceramics and paintings representing the traditions of Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other countries.
* Year of Iran
As part of celebrating its prestigious collection, the museum honors every year a different birthplace of Islamic art and culture.
This year it is Iran.
"What we are trying to do is to focus the attention on the arts and cultures of Iran," explains Farhad.
The museum currently showcases "Falnama", an exhibition of rare collection of richly illuminated manuscripts consulted by shahs, sultans and Muslim laymen in the 16th century Persia.
The exhibition, which started October 24 and runs until January 24, includes 65 artworks.
They were lent by museums including Istanbul's Topkapi Palace, the Louver, Berlin's museum of Islamic art and Geneva's museum of history.
"Falnama means the book of omens, and these books were meant to help you get inside the world of the unknown," says Farhad.
"But when you look at the illustrations and the types of subjects that are depicted, you realize that their meanings of these artworks are much more like much of the artworks from the Islamic world," she added.
"The manuscripts are really meant to tell u how to be in this world. It is a sort of a guidebook that tells you of the stories of prophets and old-time kings."
Farhad said the year of Iran includes other activities organized by the Smithsonian to highlight many aspects Iran’s culture.
"We had a very successful family day in which we celebrated Norooz, or the beginning of the Persian year and the celebration was attended by 8000 people," she recalled.
"In January there will be a festival that will focus on movies and cinema films in Iran."
The Smithsonian official denied any association between the focus on the Iranian culture and the ongoing political showdown between the two countries.
Farhad believes that showcasing a unique Islamic culture like Iran’s to Americans should always be apart from any political agendas.
"What we can do is to highlight the aspects of culture, regardless of what happens in politics."
Source: IslamOnline
"It is not a very large collection, not like the one in the British Museum for example, but in terms of quality it is one of the best in the world," Massumeh Farhad, chief of Islamic art at the Freer and Sackler Galleries at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, told IslamOnline.net.
About 5000 pieces of rare Islamic artworks are on display in the permanent exhibition of Islamic Art in the Freer Gallery, attracting a large audience whether from Americans or tourists visiting the world-famous museum complex.
Farhad says the pieces were brought together from across continents over decades.
"Works of Islamic art have been part of the Freer since its interception in 1921."
The pieces are now put in one major exhibition that steals light at the prestigious complex and celebrates deferent civilizations all shared one predominant faith, Islam.
The exhibitors affirm that the collection represents all forms of Islamic arts that ever existed.
"It covers everything, ceramics, metalwork, glass, woodwork, and architecture."
Visitors get a chance to see many forms of artwork, from brass bowls and candlesticks from Iraq and Syria to ancient folios of the Noble Qur’an from Turkey.
There are also earthenware and ceramics and paintings representing the traditions of Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other countries.
* Year of Iran
As part of celebrating its prestigious collection, the museum honors every year a different birthplace of Islamic art and culture.
This year it is Iran.
"What we are trying to do is to focus the attention on the arts and cultures of Iran," explains Farhad.
The museum currently showcases "Falnama", an exhibition of rare collection of richly illuminated manuscripts consulted by shahs, sultans and Muslim laymen in the 16th century Persia.
The exhibition, which started October 24 and runs until January 24, includes 65 artworks.
They were lent by museums including Istanbul's Topkapi Palace, the Louver, Berlin's museum of Islamic art and Geneva's museum of history.
"Falnama means the book of omens, and these books were meant to help you get inside the world of the unknown," says Farhad.
"But when you look at the illustrations and the types of subjects that are depicted, you realize that their meanings of these artworks are much more like much of the artworks from the Islamic world," she added.
"The manuscripts are really meant to tell u how to be in this world. It is a sort of a guidebook that tells you of the stories of prophets and old-time kings."
Farhad said the year of Iran includes other activities organized by the Smithsonian to highlight many aspects Iran’s culture.
"We had a very successful family day in which we celebrated Norooz, or the beginning of the Persian year and the celebration was attended by 8000 people," she recalled.
"In January there will be a festival that will focus on movies and cinema films in Iran."
The Smithsonian official denied any association between the focus on the Iranian culture and the ongoing political showdown between the two countries.
Farhad believes that showcasing a unique Islamic culture like Iran’s to Americans should always be apart from any political agendas.
"What we can do is to highlight the aspects of culture, regardless of what happens in politics."
Source: IslamOnline
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