In December 2008 Qatar’s Museums Authority opened the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar. The facility, situated along Doha’s burgeoning waterfront was designed by world-renowned Chinese American architect Leoh Min Pei, more commonly known as I.M. Pei, who also designed The Pyramid, part of the Louvre in France. Pei drew inspiration from various Islamic buildings including the 13th century ablution fountains in Egypt’s Ibn Tulun’s mosque and Spain’s Alhambra palace.
The facility houses more than 5,000 ancient and historically significant Islamic art treasures from across the Islamic Empire. Among the collection, which spans three continents and 1400 years, visitors will find Arabic calligraphy, writing, Islamic patterns (including Arabesque, one of the most defining elements of pattern in Islamic art and the use of figures in Islamic art in paintings, manuscripts, metalwork and jewelry representing civilizations of Mesopotamia, Arabia, Greater Syria, Egypt, Iran, Afghanistan and more.
Many believe that figural representation is “banned” in the Islamic world. It is true that the depiction of humans and animals is avoided in religious contexts, such as mosques, tombs and in the Qur’an because they might have been seen as a blasphemous attempt to match the creative power of God. However, much of Islamic art is for domestic or non-religious use. Here, the depiction of figure is found continuously from early Islamic times on all kinds of objects.
The art of calligraphy
The aim of the artist in the Islamic world is to make ordinary objects beautiful by means of design, decoration and exquisite craftsmanship. Arabic, the language of the Holy Qur’an has a special significance in Islamic art and calligraphy, or beautiful writing, is a pious act. Numerous calligraphers dedicated their lives to copying the Qur’an and other manuscripts. Calligraphy was held in high regard and its practice shaped some of the most fundamental elements of Islamic art.
In January 2011, the Museum announced it had welcomed its 500,000th visitor – among the more than ½ million visitors were a number of international celebrities including former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, Queen Rania of Jordan, international superstars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Colonel Gaddafi of Libya and celebrated Egyptian actor Adel Imam.