New York museum features OIC as special guest of Islamic show
Regional, Culture, 10/4/1999

The New York metropolitan museum of art on Friday night paid tribute to the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Conference by hosting a special exhibition of its famous Islamic art collection.

Diplomats from the 56-member organization were shown, however, only a small sample of the museum's collection of 12,000 objects of Islamic art.

"To see it all would take you a week," said Philippe de Montebello, the museum's curator, and he handed out guest passes good for the weekend.

The OIC dignitaries were in New York for the opening of the 54th United Nations general assembly.

"It is gratifying that the metropolitan museum of art has collaborated with the OIC in celebrating the dialogue (among nations through art) by presenting its culturally and historically rich collection of Islamic art to this distinguished gathering today," said OIC secretary-general Azeddine Laraki, a former Moroccan prime minister.

The idea of dialogue among nations through art was introduced by Iran's president Mohamad Khatami at the U.N. general assembly.

"We gather here now to celebrate our common history and cultural diversity and to collectively share with all others the cultural enrichment that can best be acquired from occasions and experiences of this nature," Laraki said.

The collection of art ranges in date from the seventh to the 19th century and consists of objects from Morocco in the west to central Asia and India in the East.

"It reflects the diversity and range of Islamic culture and offers perhaps the most comprehensive permanent installation of Islamic art on view in this world," Montebello said.

The collection has grown to its present size to 12,000 pieces through gifts, bequests and purchases. The museum also received important artifacts through excavations at Nishapur, Iran, in 1935-39 and in 1947, Montebello explained.

Among the outstanding items are glass and metalwork form Syria, Egypt and Mesopotamia, and fine classical carpets from the 16th and 17th centuries, including an Egyptian carpet in green and wine-red that is a masterpiece of Mamluk design.

The museum's Islamic art department has been involved in several unusual and special collaboration.

In 1992, the organization was involved in organizing a monumental exhibition, Al-Andalus, of Spanish and Moroccan Islamic art within the rooms of the Alhambra palace.

Another involved a joint American-Moroccan effort to rehabilitate and prepare for display in 1998 in Morocco one of the wonders of Islamic art, the great 12th century minbar from the Kutubiyya mosque in Marrakesh.

Previous Stories:
  Symposium in Rabat to commemorate Al-Quds liberation from crusaders   (10/2/1999)
  Arab stands in Frankfurt book fair larger this year   (10/2/1999)
  Music shows to alleviate poverty   (9/30/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search