Courtesy image A Syrian scroll with Arabic caligraphy dating to the Middle Ages, on loan from the Kuwaiti royal family,is one of the many pieces of Islamic art that will be on display at the Brigham Young University Museum of Art's exhibition of "Beauty and Belief: Crossing Bridges With The Art of Islamic Cultures." The exhibit, which will feature more than 200 pieces of art, will open in February.

Islam comes to BYU

Islamic culture » “Beauty and Belief” explores centuries of sacred in Muslim art at the Brigham Young University Museum of Art.

By Glen Warchol

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Mar 28 2012 04:31 pm • Last Updated Mar 29 2012 11:55 am

The Brigham Young University Museum of Art is showing an emotionally moving, culturally rich and jaw-dropping exhibit of Islamic art.

"Beauty and Belief: Crossing Bridges with the Arts of Islamic Culture," which emphasizes calligraphy and the sacredness of "the word"in Islamic art, is timely. Visitors to the extensive show spanning hundreds of years of art will gain insight into why the recent accidental burning of Korans at U.S. base in Afghanistan caused such outrage among Muslims. The word in its many forms is believed to denote the divine presence and it omnipresent in the show.

To help explain the significance of the beautiful objects, BYU design, computer and engineering students developed displays that pull visitors into the culture, including one that illustrates the "99 Names of God" on video screens.

BYUMOA is one of four museums nationally that will host the exhibit, which was curated by Sabiha Al Khemir, the founding director of the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar.

"Beauty and Belief" is, quite simply, not to be missed. It will be at BYUMOCA through September and it’s free.

For more information: beautyandbelief.byu.edu/ and moa.byu.edu

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