Artefacts from early Islamic capitals on show in Sharjah

Shaikh Sultan being briefed about the exhibition by Prof Michael Eissenhauer and Dr Stefan Weber in Sharjah on Tuesday. — Wam

Over 100 archaeological finds and exquisite artefacts from the first centuries of Umayyad and Abbasid rule, centred on their capitals of Damascus and Baghdad, respectively, are on show in the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation (SMIC).

His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and the Ruler of Sharjah, opened the exhibition entitled ‘Early Capitals of Islamic Culture - The Artistic Legacy of Umayyad Damascus and Abbasid Baghdad (650–950)’ on Tuesday.

Shaikh Sultan was given a guided tour of the exhibition by Professor Michael Eissenhauer, Director-General of Berlin State Museums; and Dr Stefan Weber, Director of the Berlin Museum of Islamic Art.

The exhibition, which is the result of a collaboration between the SMD and Berlin State Museums, is the latest in a series of high-profile exhibitions, events and activities organised by the SMD in celebration of Sharjah as 2014 Capital of Islamic Culture.

Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the ancient urban legacy of these two famed cities and explore fascinating archaeological items from Umayyad desert castles and perhaps the most famous of early Abbasid capitals outside Baghdad, Samarra.

In particular, the exhibition focuses on the cultural networks that emanated from Umayyad Damascus and Abbasid Baghdad, as virtually no traces survive of the early Islamic cities themselves. At the same time, the artefacts shown chart the fascinating transition from the pre-Islamic civilisations of Byzantium and Sasanian Iran to a new pan-Islamic civilisation.

They furthermore reveal glimpses of the dynamic complexity of cross-cultural relations between the ruling elites and the rest of the world during the earliest evolution and expansion of Islamic culture. To achieve those objectives, the artefacts are not only placed in chronological and thematic order but are part of a wider story that gives a historic overview of urban, architectural and artistic developments as well as highlighting the transfer of knowledge and artistic traditions between cultures and civilisations.

Manal Ataya, Director-General of the SMD, said: “In its dynamic, tolerant and ground-breaking outlook, fostered by a visionary leader, Sharjah shares many characteristics with the earliest cultural centres of the Islamic world. It is this fact that makes the exhibition from the Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin a befitting highlight in our celebrations of Sharjah as this year’s cultural capital. At the same time, we are delighted that our German partners should again be at our side on this occasion, after having been the first — as early as 2008 — to contribute an exhibition — The Radiance of Islamic Art — after the opening of the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation’.

Dr Weber said, “We are very happy and proud to be invited as participants in Sharjah’s celebration as Cultural Capital 2014. The Early Islamic Capitals exhibition is very important to us as for the first time ever in this region, an exhibition focuses on the beginning of Islamic art in the framework of ancient cultures. Moreover, this exhibition — together with a series of professional development workshops this year — is a direct result of our comprehensive memorandum of understanding with Sharjah Museums Department and the German Goethe Institute, signed in 2013. Berlin Museums and Sharjah Museums have been friends for many years now, and this exhibition is our latest joint achievement.” -afkarali@khaleejtimes.com