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Religion museum celebrated The Word

By Vico Lee
STAFF REPORTER
Sunday, Mar 23, 2003, Page 19

In the months preceding March 20, the international arts community was much concerned about the possible destruction of irreplaceable structures and works of art as a result of the US-Iraq conflict. During the Gulf War 3,000 antiques are thought to have gone missing from nine museums, apparently plundered by Iraqi civilians.

Now that war in Iraq has become a reality, the displacement of artifacts becomes all the more alarming. A large portion of the plunder will be in the form of Islamic artifacts, typically decorated with elaborate Arabic calligraphy.

A visit to the Understanding Islam Through the Art of Calligraphy (認識伊斯蘭--書法藝術展) exhibition currently on show at the Museum of World Religions (世界宗教博物館), will give you an idea of what is at stake.

Although the museum said the timing of the show is coincidental, it may inspire people to think about the inextricable relationship between art, religion and life for the people of the Islamic world.

Intended as an educational exhibition, this calligraphy show is not particularly large, and to underline the focus on religion, presents only artifacts that use the calligraphic styles used in copying the Koran.

The 13 items on show occupy a space so small that viewers can walk around all the exhibits in just 10 steps, and inattentive viewers may finish the whole show in five minutes. But this would be a pity as this is a rare chance to see such elaborate calligraphic works from the Islamic world in Taiwan.

The exhibits range from decorative plates, rugs and oil lamps to manuscripts of the Koran. Some of them are on loan from the Taipei Mosque. Chinese translations of the text are placed next to the exhibits. A brief introduction to the styles used is also included.

Also on show is a 1/50 model of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, which marks the site from where the Prophet Muhammad made his journey to heaven. Words from the Koran decorate its walls.

"The exhibition tries to show how a common language -- Arabic -- powerfully units worshippers from 58 Islamic countries around the world, and also how Islamic religion contributes to the preservation of Arabic calligraphy," said Ching Yu-chuan (金玉泉), professor at the Department of Arabic Language and Literature of National Chengchi University and former Imam of Taipei's Wen Hua Mosque(文化清真寺).

"Compared with Chinese calligraphy, which considers a unique individual style a high achievement, Islamic calligraphy is more universal. The difference between a master calligrapher and one less talented may not seem obvious. It's the careful composition and ingenious connecting of letters that's the test of a good calligrapher," Ching said.

Although the essence of the calligraphic art is not easily revealed in this small show, these delicate fonts integrating abstract birds and fruits are very beautiful to look at.

Accompanying the exhibition, the museum will screen Promises, a documentary on children living on the Israel-Palestinian divide by American directors Justine Shapiro and B.Z. Goldberg.

More Information: Understanding Islam Through the Art of Calligraphy will run until May 4 at the Museum of World Religions, 7F., 236 Chungshan Rd., Sec. 1, Yungho City, Taipei County (台北縣永和市中山路一段236號7樓).
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