Islamic Art And The Museum

A unique, multi-authored volume on the issues and politics of curating Islamic art in the twenty-first century.

This book explores the great diversity and range of Islamic culture through one of the finest collections in the world. Published to coincide with the historic reopening of the galleries of the Metropolitan Museum's Islamic Art Department, it presents nearly three hundred masterworks created in the rich tradition of the Islamic faith and culture. The Metropolitan's renowned holdings range chronologically from the origins of Islam in the 7th century through the 19th century, and geographically from as far west as Spain to as far east as Southeast Asia.

Published on the occasion of the exhibition The Art of the Qur'an: Treasures from the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Istanbul, held at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington, D.C., October 15, 2016-February 20, 2017.

The great Islamic Dynasties of the Mediterranean are the protagonists of this book, together with their fascinating artistic and cultural legacy. Thirty-nine scholars, museum curators and experts in cultural heritage, from 14 countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, are the authors of the 22 chapters that take the reader through 13 centuries of Islamic history from the period of the Prophet Muhammad up until the end of the Ottoman Empire (1922). Discover Islamic Art in the Mediterranean is a collaborative work that was written for all those who share our idea that there is not only one history, but that at least as many histories as peoples exist. The idea of this book is to contribute to a historically more accurate and thus more authentic understanding of Islam by offering different perspectives of interpreting history, art and culture. This Book is published to complement the www.discoverislamicart.org Virtual Museum and its cycle of 18 Virtual Exhibitions Discover Islamic Art in the Mediterranean.

Deconstructing the Myths of Islamic Art addresses how researchers can challenge stereotypical notions of Islam and Islamic art while avoiding the creation of new myths and the encouragement of nationalistic and ethnic attitudes. Despite its Orientalist origins, the field of Islamic art has continued to evolve and shape our understanding of the various civilizations of Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Situated in this field, this book addresses how universities, museums, and other educational institutions can continue to challenge stereotypical or homogeneous notions of Islam and Islamic art. It reviews subtle and overt mythologies through scholarly research, museum collections and exhibitions, classroom perspectives, and artists’ initiatives. This collaborative volume addresses a conspicuous and persistent gap in the literature, which can only be filled by recognizing and resolving persistent myths regarding Islamic art from diverse academic and professional perspectives. The book will be of interest to scholars working in art history, museum studies, visual culture, and Middle Eastern studies.