A Must See - Exhition at IAMM - Steve McCurry

Salam All,

Just want to share some pics i took at the exhibition recently. Please do spare some time - visit IAMM - see for yourself this wonderful Exhibition - A Common Faith - Steve McCurry's Travels through the Muslim World. It's breath-taking :)

A common faith - Steve McCurry's Travel to the Muslim World

EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS

Event : A Common Faith: Steve McCurry’s Travels through the Muslim World
Date : 7 January 2010 - 8 April 2010
Category : Exhibition

People are what motivate Steve McCurry. His religious views have seldom been recorded but the faith that has surrounded him on his journeys is Islam. McCurry rarely gets close to the outwardly religious lives of Muslims. What we see is the less formalised expressions of devotion, such as a brick maker at prayer surrounded by his dusty production line. The backdrops do not conform to the usual images of Islam, nor do the subjects. Seldom are they just ‘a Muslim’; they are always people, individuals going about their lives, typically in difficult situations. Although the shadow of war and adversity hangs over much of McCurry’s work, his views are far from hopeless. Most provide an uplifting insight into lives that are beset with problems and yet are normal for those living them. The resilience of the human spirit can be seen everywhere, as can the transcendent beauty of nature

7 January 2010
Exhibition Launch & Public Talk
Venue: Auditorium, Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
Time: 3.00pm
The public are invited to participate in the Public Talk by Steve McCurry. Please RSVP your seats by 4 January 2010, please write in to education@iamm.org.my or contact 2270 5101 /5103 /5111 to reserve your seats.

8 January 2010
Steve McCurry Masterclass - Photography Workshop
Venue: Education Workshop, Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
Two sessions, time: 10.00am - 1.00pm OR 2.30pm - 5.30pm
Capacity: 50 pax per class
Fee: RM 200.00
To participate, please send an email to stevemccurryclass@iamm.org.my latest by 2 January 2010. First come, first served.

These events are presented by the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia in association with Epson.

Source: www.iamm.org.my

Journey of Faith - En Route to Mecca

The pilgrimage to Mecca has a deeper meaning than just fulfilling the Pillar of Islam. This spiritual and physical journey taken by Muslims on a global scale, for the past 1,400 years, is documented in an exhibition currently showcasing at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.

The twelfth month of the Islamic lunar calendar marks an event of the greatest significance. It is an annual convention of faith that brings Muslims from different parts of the globe together to the holiest site in Arabia for a single purpose: to carry out the duty of Haj. Unlike other journeys, the Haj is a sacred undertaking that takes participants to Mecca to perform clearly defined rites and rituals at the appointed time. It demands physical and mental strength as well as the sacrifice of time and money.

Nothing embodies the universal nature of Islam better than the Haj. Pilgrims converge from every corner of the earth. And these days, they are accompanied by media coverage from around the world. The gathering of three million worshippers is an impressive spectacle, as well being an exclusive occasion.

Being restricted solely to Muslims adds another dimension of interest for a world that wishes to learn more about Islam. The Haj is Islam in microcosm: an assembly in which rank and riches are of less concern than a sense of community. Although the Haj is often referred to as the “journey of a lifetime”, there is remarkably little attention given to the pilgrims’ means of travel. The exhibition at the Islamic Museum En Route to Mecca: Pilgrims’ Voices throughout the Centuries focuses on the sense of anticipation and adventure that the faithful have always encountered on their way of fulfilling this Pillar of Islam. In an age of comparatively painless jet travel, the hardships have been reduced. Also gone is the time when a pilgrimage might be numbered in years rather than days. The objective and rituals have remained the same for more than 1400 years, but the means of achieving these has been altered beyond recognition.

En Route to Mecca: Pilgrims’ Voices throughout the Centuries provides an overview of the journey as well as the destination, weaving in all the elements that make the Haj so remarkable. In addition to providing a glimpse of the holy land of Mecca and its environs, the exhibition dwells on the role played by the Prophet Ibrahim and his family. The Farewell Haj performed by the Prophet Muhammed, is also central to the story.

Since that time, the faithful have unfailingly retraced the footage of the prophets.

Besides the act of worship, the Haj shows the beauty of Islam. This is not only in the relationship between worshippers and their creator but also in the relationship between human beings and other creations. Reflections of this journey are not only apparent in pilgrims’ thoughts and actions but are also visible in works of art. Some are representations of the Majid al-Haram, or objects used to adorn this and other monuments; others are items of utility, such as elegant water flasks.

The Haj journey does not end at Mecca. It continues until the pilgrims return to their different homelands. Being the guest of God in His sacred house is the aspiration of every Muslim. It is a route full of sincerity, determination and continuous commitment, as well as beauty.

En Route to Mecca: Pilgrims’ Voices throughout the Centuries at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia is on until Jan 22, 2010.