25 January - 25 May, 2025
Islamic Arts Biennale 2025
The Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 provides a holistic platform for new discourse about Islamic arts, offering an unparalleled space for learning, research, and insight. By juxtaposing contemporary and newly commissioned artworks with historical objects from Islamic cultures, the Biennale explores how faith is experienced, expressed, and celebrated through feeling, thinking, and making. It offers a unique platform for artists to explore themes of spirituality, identity, and the intersection of past and present, while fostering cross-cultural connections and expanding the global understanding of Islamic art and culture.
And All That Is In Between: The Second Edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale
"Exploring Faith Through Feeling, Thinking, and Making"
And All That Is In Between is a phrase that appears multiple times in the Quran: “And God created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is in between.” It encapsulates the vast and awe-inspiring scope of God’s creation as experienced by humankind. The 2025 Islamic Arts Biennale draws inspiration from this verse, presenting a profound exploration of how faith is lived, expressed, and celebrated. Spanning five exhibition halls and outdoor spaces, the Biennale showcases over 500 historical objects and contemporary artworks, inviting visitors to reflect on the divine's wonders and humankind's connection to it. In its second edition, the Islamic Arts Biennale expands significantly, featuring more works and a broader range of participating institutions. This growth establishes the Biennale as a global hub for Islamic arts, uniting treasures from renowned institutions worldwide. From Tunis to Tashkent and Timbuktu to Yogyakarta, the exhibition highlights Islamic arts' rich heritage and dynamic present. Iconic institutions such as the Louvre Museum (Paris), Victoria and Albert Museum (London), and Museum of Islamic Art (Doha) have contributed invaluable pieces. Other notable participants include the Ahmed Baba Institute (Timbuktu), Süleymaniye Library (Istanbul), and Saudi Arabia’s leading cultural centers like Ithra (Dhahran) and the King Fahad National Library (Riyadh). Visitors will also have the rare opportunity to view sacred objects from the holy sites of Makkah and Madinah, deepening the Biennale’s spiritual resonance and fostering dialogue and collaboration across cultures.