Sharjah museum hosts photography exhibition

Sharjah: The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation yesterday launched a three-month photography exhibition that depicts Muslim life in Europe.

The photography exhibition is open until August 14, showcases the works of Ahmad Krausen, a Danish Muslim photographer who embraced Islam in 1992.

"The camera has been the most important companion on my spiritual path to Islam. To me, the significance of light acts as a bridge between Islam and photography," he said.

The exhibition, entitled, "Dunya — Glimpses of Muslim life in Europe," was inaugurated by Shaikh Khalid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Public Works Department, and aims at providing an insight into the lives of ordinary Muslims in Europe and how they connect their lives to the Muslim community.

‘First time'

"This is the first time I can share my passion for documenting Muslim life in Europe with my brothers and sisters in the Gulf. I hope my photos will act as a positive reflection of their presence, their many different experiences and their aspirations in the societies they live in."

Over 70 images were selected by the artist to evoke major themes in the search for a harmonious coexistence between Muslim and non-Muslim communities throughout Europe, at a time when there is a lot of religious tensions between the two.

Aisha Deemas, curator of Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation, pointed out that visitors can learn about the realities of Muslim lives in Europe through Krausen's images. "While many of us know of course that large Muslim communities exist there, we know little about their mosques or their individual experiences. The photos in the exhibition provide the public with an opportunity to connect with fellow Muslims on a direct and human level."

On the sidelines of the photography exhibition's opening, the Sharjah Museums Department also inaugurated its new book, Masterpieces from the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation.

It was researched and written by Dr Ulrike Al Khamis, Advisor for Middle Eastern and Islamic Arts Collections at Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation. It is in Arabic and English and covers the main collections of the museum. The book displays a selection of 50 artefacts from the collection of the Islamic Museum, and is available in most Sharjah Museums for Dh85.

It provides evidence of the contributions of Muslim scholars, artists and scientists. Dr Al Khamis said the book is part of the 5,000-object collection and is "one of the most important treasure troves of Islamic art and culture in the region and beyond,"

Manal Ataya, Director General of Sharjah Museums Department said the book takes visitors on a journey into history.