Islamic Arts Festival showcases 473 artworks from 24 countries

The festival will commence on Wednesday at the Sharjah Art Museum. The festival will host 114 events and 473 artworks by 170 artists from 24 countries around the world over a period of 70 days.

This announcement was made during a press conference held in the conference hall at the Department of Culture on Monday morning, attended by His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Department, a number of participating artists, members of the organising committees, and representatives from local, Arab, and international media outlets.

The festival will feature 473 artworks from 24 countries worldwide.

Civilisational message

Al Qasir began by welcoming the attendees, saying in his opening remarks: "Sharjah brings us together today for a new edition of the Islamic Arts Festival. This cultural and artistic event embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah to make art a civilisational message that reflects the essence of humanity and forms a bridge for cultural communication between the peoples of the world."

He added: "Since its inception in the late 1990s, the festival has established itself as a distinguished artistic event in the Arab world and beyond, having restored Islamic arts to their prominent place alongside other fine arts. The new edition of the festival will launch this Wednesday with a renewed look, continuing to realise the vision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in building a global artistic project whose features are embodied in Sharjah. In its 26th edition, the festival continues what it began since its founding, emphasising the importance of showcasing Islamic arts through Emirati, Arab, and international participation that reflects the spirit of openness and diversity, and expresses its position as an artistic platform that combines authenticity and innovation."

Siraj

Explaining the festival's theme, "Siraj," Al Qasir said that the Islamic Arts Festival, organized by the Department of Cultural Affairs at the Sharjah Department of Culture, is being held this year under the theme "Siraj," opening its doors to more than 150 artists from around the world, including researchers, specialists, and international artists, to present works that reflect the broad and multifaceted meaning of the theme.

114 events

Regarding the festival's events, Al Qasir said: "The Islamic Arts Festival begins in two days, and we will be treated to a rich programme of events and activities throughout the festival. These will showcase artists who have carried the torch of Islamic art and highlighted its beauty through ideas that align with the essence of the festival's theme. A total of 114 events will be held during the festival, including exhibitions, workshops, and lectures, hosted by the Department of Culture in collaboration with 26 entities in Sharjah, including the Sharjah House of Wisdom, the College of Fine Arts and Design at the University of Sharjah, the Arab Photographers Union, the Photographic Society, the Emirates Fine Arts Society, and other venues in Sharjah." The festival director stated that the events will include 52 exhibitions hosted by the Sharjah Art Museum, the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, the Khorfakkan Amphitheater, the Emirates Association for Arabic Calligraphy and Islamic Ornamentation, and other venues in the emirate.

170 artists from 24 countries

Al Qasir noted that this year's festival will feature 170 artists from 24 Arab and international countries, saying, "The UAE leads the Arab countries with extensive participation, while the remaining participants are from other countries such as Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Morocco, Jordan, and Oman. Non-Arab countries participating include Spain, Poland, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Turkey, Canada, Hong Kong, Iran, and Chile. It is also worth mentioning that South Africa and Belize are participating in the festival for the first time." The festival director added, "They are expected to present 473 artworks, including installations, calligraphy, murals, and paintings in traditional calligraphy and ornamentation, while 52 art workshops will be held. Eight lectures on Arabic calligraphy will also be presented. Amidst this vibrant festival, we are delighted to host over 316 guests, including media representatives, lecturers, calligraphers, and workshop supervisors."

Parallel exhibition

Al Qasir continued, "It is also important to mention the parallel solo exhibitions participating in the festival, including: 'Siraj' by Emirati artist Fatima Lootah, held at the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum; 'Succession of Generations' by Emirati artist Mohammed Mandi and his students, held at the Emirates Association for Arabic Calligraphy and Islamic Ornamentation; and 'Reflection' by Turkish artist Professor Omar Faruk Taşkılı and his students, held at the Calligraphers' Houses, among other exhibitions in the Calligraphy Square." The Director of Cultural Affairs at the Department of Culture noted that the Khorfakkan Amphitheater will showcase Kuwaiti artist Aseel Yaqoub's work "Nour Ala Nour" (Light Upon Light), and the collaborative artwork "Mishkat" (Niche) by Emirati artists Majid Al Bastaki and Abdullah Al Ustad. Meanwhile, the House of Wisdom will feature Emirati artist Salma Al Mansouri's "Manara" (Lighthouse) and British artist Romina Khanum's "Ma'awarat Al Mu'awarat: Al Qumsa" (Luminous Passages: The Five Pillars), along with a selection of other artworks.

He also explained that the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park will host works such as "Da'irat Al Nour" (Circle of Light) by Kuwaiti artist Mahmoud Shaker, "Ash wa Nazam" (Ashes and Order) by Emirati artist Rawda Al Mazrouei, and "Ta'bar" (Repetition) by Iranian artist Neda Salmanpour. The Design Centre - 1971 will host works including "Najma Fi Al Warehouse" (Star in the Warehouse) by Jordanian artist Omar Darwish, "Al Fad Al Baqa" (The Dividing Space) by Emirati artist Ruqaya Al Hashemi, and others.

At the conclusion of the conference, Al Qasir expressed his gratitude to the festival's organising committee and the official entities that contributed to hosting the various events.