• “Noor of Allah, Rope of Imamat” was created by Bait-ul Ilm children across the UK as part of the Jubilee Jamboree celebrations.
    Naheema Walji | 17 October 2008 | UK

    Reflecting the Jamat’s heritage

    “Noor of Allah, Rope of Imamat” was created by Bait-ul Ilm children across the UK as part of the Jubilee Jamboree celebrations. Courtesy of the Ismaili Council for the UK

The Golden Jubilee Visual Arts Exhibition, which toured the United Kingdom earlier this year, provided a platform for those with artistic talent to capture this special Jubilee period in our history through their own creative expression.

Amynah Goawalla stands beside her work, “Historic Reunion” (top), which depicts the epic moment when Mawlana Hazar Imam addressed the Jamat in Afghanistan from across the river in Tajikistan. The photograph below, “Man Selling His Produce in Kashgar Market,” was taken by Karim Jivraj. Photo: Courtesy of the Ismaili Council for the UK Amynah Goawalla stands beside her work, “Historic Reunion” (top), which depicts the epic moment when Mawlana Hazar Imam addressed the Jamat in Afghanistan from across the river in Tajikistan. The photograph below, “Man Selling His Produce in Kashgar Market,” was taken by Karim Jivraj. Courtesy of the Ismaili Council for the UK

During the latter half of 2007, members of the United Kingdom Jamat were invited to submit works of art for display in the Golden Jubilee Visual Arts Exhibition, a part of the Golden Jubilee Expressions family of projects.

The exhibition was inspired by Mawlana Hazar Imam's reflections at Word of God, Art of Man: The Qur'an and its Creative Expressions, an international colloquium organised in October 2003 by The Institute of Ismaili Studies:

“Whatever its vernacular forms, the language of art, more so when it is spiritually inspired, can be a positive barrier-transcending medium of discourse, manifesting the depths of the human spirit… Is not a great work of art, like the ecstasy of the mystic, a gesture of the spirit, a stirring of the soul that comes from the attempt to experience a glimpse of, and an intimacy with, that which is ineffable and beyond being?”

The exhibition provided a platform for those with artistic talent to capture this special Jubilee period in our history through their own creative expression. It aspired to showcase a vibrant talent while nurturing new potential in the visual arts.

Stirred by the beauty of Allah's creation, some artists submitted depictions of nature and the environment. Others captured utterances of prayer – including the names of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), Hazrat Ali, and the Imams – through striking calligraphy and geometric patterns. There were also works that were inspired by the establishment of Imamat and Jamati institutions.

Approximately 70 pieces were selected for the final display, representing artists as young as 7 and as old as 80 from the United Kingdom and regions across Europe. Their works, which included a colourful array of acrylic and oil paintings, embroidery, pottery, mosaics, metals, models, collages, and calligraphy, were set against an elegant white background and illuminated with custom lighting.

“The Ismaili Centre” was produced by Class 14 of North London Bait-ul Ilm, who learnt about the history of the Centre as part of their curriculum. Photo: Courtesy of the Ismaili Council for the UK “The Ismaili Centre” was produced by Class 14 of North London Bait-ul Ilm, who learnt about the history of the Centre as part of their curriculum. Courtesy of the Ismaili Council for the UK

A first of its kind for the Jamat of the United Kingdom jurisdiction, the exhibition made its debut appearance on Navroz day, amidst celebrations at the NSF 2008 sports festival held at Keele University. It then went on tour, capturing the imagination of Jamats at West London, Nottingham, Leicester, South London, North London, Northwest and The Ismaili Centre.

The Golden Jubilee Visual Arts Exhibition sought to evoke a creative spirit within the Jamat, celebrate its history and heritage, and discover new expression from within its diversity. It was an apt reflection of the Jamat and its progress during the past fifty years.