Sharjah: Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), inaugurated the second edition of the "Chapters of Islamic Art" exhibition, themed "Travelogues", at House of Wisdom (HoW) in Sharjah. The exhibition will run for four months and highlights the contributions of prominent travelers, geographers, and cartographers from the Golden Age of Islamic Science and beyond.
According to Emirates News Agency, the exhibition, held at HoW's Khawarizmi Exhibition Hall until 5th July, invites visitors on a journey through time, showcasing rare manuscripts, books, and maps. These works vividly capture the travels of Muslim explorers across the globe. Among the highlights are curated pieces from Professor Richard Ettinghausen's collection, complemented by artifacts from the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre, the Sharjah Museums Authority, the Manuscripts House in Sharjah, and the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Saudi Arabia.
Mawra Al-Aqroubi, HoW Executive Director, emphasized the significance of travelogue as a historical archive where Muslim and Arab travellers excelled. She stated that the exhibition honors legendary travellers of Arab and Islamic history, presenting a legacy that immortalises their role in documenting geography and broadening perspectives. The manuscripts, maps, and tools on display are described as bridges conveying ideas, traditions, and cultural truths, inspiring researchers, explorers, and storytellers.
The exhibition is organised into four sections, each focusing on travel literature, geography, and cartography. The first section, 'Journeys in Ink', explores the science of Al-Masalik wal-Mamalik from the Abbasid period, featuring rare manuscripts like Ibn Khordadbeh's 'The Routes and Kingdoms' and other significant works. The second section, "Al-Idrisi: Mapping the World," showcases the famous inverted map of Al-Idrisi and traces its impact through history. The third section includes navigational tools, while the fourth section delves into the connection between past and present through technologies like aerial photography and digital storytelling.
This exhibition follows the "Chapters of Islamic Art," launched earlier by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, featuring rare books from Professor Richard Ettinghausen's collection, gifted by His Highness, with 12,000 works across various fields.
