presents
Journeys along the Silk Road “ seek
kn owledge even as far as china ”
the prophet muhammad sa
V I P I N V I TAT I O N
3-5 August 2018 JALSA SALANA UK
In collaboration with:
Peter Sanders
Leading Photographer of the Muslim World
Razwan Baig
Islamic Art Collector & Calligrapher
Haji Noor Deen
Master of Arabic & Chinese Calligraphy
Journeys along the Silk Road
BY INVITE ONLY
Discover how 1400 years of interaction along the Silk Road created unique and stunning forms of Islamic art, calligraphy and identity – from Persia, China and beyond. The Silk Road was a crossroads for civilisations and religions. With Islam’s arrival and rapid spread from the 7th century AD, a remarkable and complex set of cultures developed along the Silk Road, uniting local art and aesthetics with Islamic principles and values. Despite the long historic association between Islam and eastern cultures, little is known about these Muslim communities and their visual identities, particularly in China where the Muslim population remains a minority. This exhibition aims to portray the long relationship between Islam and the lands along the Silk Road, through to the current day.
Haji Noor Deen’s extraordinary conflation of Chinese and Arabic calligraphy remains unique and unparalleled
The Review of Religions, in collaboration with Razwan Baig, is proud to exhibit 1400 years of Islam’s interactions in the East, showcasing historic splendours, rare photographs and Arabic calligraphic masterpieces of Persian and Chinese influence. The exhibition will be accompanied by talks and seminars, featuring world-renowned academic experts in the field of Islamic culture in the East.
The Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter in the old city, Xi’an China
Peter Sanders striking images of the Hajj (pilgrimage) were revolutionary. Prior to his exclusive visit in 1971, images of the Hajj were rare.
Exhibition Highlights
Rare Islamic Artefacts: Razwan Baig
Razwan Baig has spent decades showcasing Islamic art and learning calligraphy at the hand of experts around the world
Razwan Baig has spent over 25 years as a scholar, collector, philanthropist and Islamic art critic and researcher. His Islamic Art collection includes items as diverse as textiles and ceramics to paintings and Qur’anic manuscripts. He has showcased his collection across several major art museums and international exhibitions. Razwan Baig has generously supported The Review of Religions exhibition for several years and returns this year, with an outstanding collection of rare and stunning Islamic artefacts. He will be speaking on his collection and his expertise as a calligrapher during the exhibition. We have collaborated once again with Razwan Baig to bring two key figures relating to Islam in the East, Haji Noor Deen Mi Guang Jiang and Peter Sanders.
Master Calligrapher: Haji Noor Deen This year the renowned Chinese calligrapher Haji Noor Deen will be showcasing his incredible work in a series of live workshops throughout the exhibition. Haji Noor Deen has been studying and teaching calligraphy for over 30 years, showcasing his work across the world at institutions such as the British Museum and Harvard University Art Museum. His unique style unites Chinese and Arabic calligraphy, creating pieces of unique artistic beauty.
The Lives of Modern Day Muslims in China: Peter Sanders Peter Sanders, a renowned photographer of the Muslim world, will display his fascinating collection of photographs, providing a unique glimpse into the daily lives of ordinary Chinese Muslims throughout the country. Before becoming a Muslim, Peter Sanders was the photographer for famous bands such as the Beatles and Rolling Stones. After accepting Islam, he dedicated his talents to Islamic art and photography. He was granted special access to photograph the Hajj and his images were shown in the British Museum’s special Hajj exhibition. Over a period of twenty years, Peter travelled the length and breadth of China to find and capture images of Muslims in China at school, at work, at rest and at worship. Peter has spent more than 45 years capturing over half a million images and will share his journey at a special talk at the exhibition.
The Review of Religions Established in 1902, The Review of Religions has been providing cutting edge content for 116 years to prove the existence of God and demonstrate the relevance of religion in the modern world. Today it has developed into a multi-platform media organisation across print, online, YouTube, social media and exhibitions. The Review of Religions exhibition has been running for five years and has continually grown in size and stature.
Tens of thousands attended last year’s exhibition, which attracted visitors from over 25 countries. The event also attracted media coverage on a global scale, with interviews broadcast on MTA International reaching an audience of over 50 million people worldwide. The Guardian, Independent and foreign media outlets have also covered the exhibition.
About the event The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community hold an annual conference for three days each year known as the Jalsa Salana. The Jalsa Salana has been running for over 100 years, initiated in 1891 by the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community – Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be upon him), believed by Ahmadi Muslims to be the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi. Each year, over 30,000 people attend the Jalsa from around the world, with members of parliament, dignitaries, guest speakers and leaders of world faiths coming together in the name of peace and unity. The essence of the Jalsa is captured in the motto of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community: Love for All, Hatred for None.
Other Exhibits on Display
Shroud of Turin Exhibit
Al-Qalam Project
After successive years of immense success, The Review of Religions is pleased to once again host the Shroud of Turin conference. The conference is chaired by leading speaker on the Shroud, Barrie Schwortz, official documenting photographer of the Shroud of Turin.
In 2016, Razwan Baig launched the historic Al-Qalam Project. The project is the first of its kind in which each participant contributes a single verse and thus the complete text of the Holy Qur’an will be entirely handwritten by members of the public. Everyone, including nonMuslims, are invited to participate.
For more information: www.rorexhibition.org
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The event will be held at: Oakland Farm, East Worldham, Alton GU34 3AU
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