Lectures from the Allen Room & Wertheim Study: Orientalism vs. Inclusive Practice in Exhibition : Islam and Muslim Peoples in Western Museums, 2011 - present

After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Muslim peoples and the religion of Islam have become politicized and demonized in many Western media representations[1]. Specifically, Islam and Muslim peoples have been represented as closely associated (if not inextricable) with religious extremism/global terrorism (which is also known as Islamophobia) in many Western mass media representations[2].

 

Contemporaneously, there has been an increase in religion- based cultural exhibition[3], particularly representations of Muslim peoples and Islam in various Western cultural institutions.

 

Utilizing the visual culture discourse as a methodology, this illustrated presentation explores the connections and societal importance between the contemporary media representations and exhibition text panels/ design within the following major reinstallations of permanent collections and temporary exhibitions:

 

·        Islamic Arts Wing at the Louvre- Paris, France, reinstallation

·        New Galleries of the Art of Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia and Later South Asia at the Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York City, USA, reinstallation

·        Arts of the Islamic World Galleries- Brooklyn Museum, USA, reinstallation

·        The Islamic Middle East Galleries- Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK, reinstallation

·        Hajj: journey to the Heart of Islam at the British Museum- London, UK, temporary exhibition

·        1001 Inventions- Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World,-New York Hall of Science, USA, temporary exhibition

·        Three Faiths, New York Public Library,- New York City, USA, temporary exhibition

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