NEWS
The Islamic Art and Architecture Forum Concluded with a Series of Multi-Cultural Activities
Sakhir – University of Bahrain
November 15, 2022
The events of the Islamic Art and Architecture Forum, organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities in collaboration with the University of Bahrain, will come to an end on Thursday November 17, 2022, at Bahrain National Museum.
The Dean of the College of Engineering, University of Bahrain, Dr. Shaikha Haifa bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, stressed that the celebration of the International Day of Islamic Art enhances Islamic identity and culture and its diversity. Dr. Shaikha Haifa gave a speech at the opening of the Forum of Islamic Art and Architecture. She referred that this celebration not only encourages the appreciation and development of Islamic art and design, but also celebrates the diversity of Islamic art, which in turn enriches other fields of arts, cultures, and traditions.
The Dean of the College of Engineering lauded the role of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities which hosted the forum, noting that “Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities presented an initiative to UNESCO to announce a world day for Islamic art. UNESCO proclaimed the eighteenth of November for celebrating this ancient and distinguished art.”
For his part, the Director of the National Heritage at Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, delivered a speech in which he stressed on the importance of “Collaborative teamwork with educational institutions in the Kingdom of Bahrain”. He mentioned that, “The University of Bahrain is one of the most prominent institutions that seek to highlight the beautiful image of the local cultural movement, and benefit from the expertise of qualified educational cadres, in the field of Islamic art and architecture.
In this context, the Director of the National Heritage looked forward to “more bilateral collaboration with the University of Bahrain, in order to achieve the national goals in the fields of science and culture.”
Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa expressed his happiness for participating in the celebration of the International Day of Islamic Art. He extended his thanks to the administration of the University of Bahrain, particularly the Dean of the College of Engineering, Dr. Shaikha Haifa bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, for the fruitful collaboration with the team of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities in organizing this celebration.
Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa stated, “Participating in the celebration gave us the opportunity to meet with many academians specialized in Islamic art and architecture. We are pleased to meet with them at Bahrain National Museum.”
This year’s program included many lectures that shed light on the art of architecture in the Islamic world and how it is affected by civilization and culture, especially the architecture of mosques. These lectures included “Sacred Spaces in Islamic Architecture: Connections and Influences,” “Islamic Art and Architecture as a Mirror of Civilization,” “Traditional Bosnian Architecture: Sverozou’s House in Sarajevo,” “Architecture and People in Arab and Islamic Heritage: The Meaning of Dwelling,” and “Mosque Architecture: In Search of Diversity in Design”, Seventeenth Century Mosques: Jama Masjid in Delhi and Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul”, “Hybrid Crafts”, “Islamic Designs between Embodiment and Immaterialism”, “Islamic Identity in the Middle East”, and Modern Mosque Design (Islamic Art and Architecture Symposium Competition 2020), in addition to a panel discussion entitled, “Contemporary Trends in Islamic Art and Design.”
The event focused on diversity in Islamic art and architecture, after the global expansion of Islamic civilization throughout its rich history, extending from Europe to Central Asia, through which regional cultural centers characterized by their aesthetic qualities were established. The forum shed light on the tangible and immaterial aspects, and the various modern practices that enrich the Islamic world in all its aspects.
Dr. Tamader Ali Al-Fahal, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of the Forum, stated that the forum, which will be held on 9-17 November, will include a student competition to design a logo for this annual event, as part of the events accompanying the forum.
