Louvre Abu Dhabi: Islamic art throughout the ages

The exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi focused on the concept of “light,” which explained its title and tied into the core theme of this year’s Al Burda Award. This theme drew inspiration from Surat Al-Ma’idah, verse 15: “There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.”

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and as part of the activities surrounding the ceremony to honor the winners of the 18th edition of the Al Burda Award 2024, the Ministry of Culture organized an art exhibition titled “As the Sun Appears from Beyond” at the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum, which concluded in January 2025. The exhibition offered a rich visual journey spanning over two decades, celebrating Islamic art throughout the ages. It highlighted prominent pieces owned by the Ministry of Culture, including works that had won the Al Burda Award. These pieces demonstrated how Islamic art blends traditional methods with contemporary innovations, reflecting the UAE’s pioneering role in supporting arts and culture globally.

The exhibition focused on the concept of “light,” which explained its title and tied into the core theme of this year’s Al Burda Award. This theme drew inspiration from Surat Al-Ma’idah, verse 15: “There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.”

Visitors embarked on a journey through more than 60 unique works of art spanning various artistic fields, including Arabic calligraphy, ornamentation, and poetry. The exhibition provided an immersive, interactive experience that brought to life the ability of Islamic art to combine classical expression with modern creativity, creating a unique harmony.

The exhibition resulted from the first edition of the Al Burda Grant Program and the “Capacity Building Program. " It marked the collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and the AgaKhan Museum in Toronto, Canada, based on a memorandum of understanding between the two institutions. The works showcased in the exhibition illustrated the evolution of Islamic art over time, from traditional pieces to contemporary interpretations.

The Ministry of Culture of the UAE launched Al Burda Award in 2004 to celebrate the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth. In its eighteenth edition, the Award’s activities this year will be held under the title “Light,” as a theme that embodies guidance and direction toward the path of truth and goodness, taking its theme from Surat Al-Ma’idah, verse 15: “There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.”

The Al Burda Award, launched by the Ministry of Culture in 2004 to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Mohamed (PBUH), represents a global platform that celebrates Islamic art, poetry, and culture. The exhibition paid tribute to those who have contributed to Islamic art and highlighted works that reflect the concept of “light,” which was central to the 18th edition and the 20th anniversary of the prestigious award.

For contemporary art enthusiasts, the exhibition’s upper floor featured works from the Al Burda Collection, blending physical and spiritual interpretations of Islamic art. The exhibition visitors began their journey in the Archive Section, which documented the development of the Al Burda Award over the past two decades, offering a visual historical perspective with photographs and videos. In the Poetry Section, visitors encountered winning works from various editions of the Al Burda Award, celebrating poetry as a central form of Islamic artistic expression. The exhibition’s forum area on the lower floor was dedicated to exploring the Hilya, a distinctive type of Arabic calligraphy that emphasizes the attributes of the Prophet Mohamed (PBUH). The exhibition also featured the “Holy Qur’an: NoorAla Noor” section, showcasing calligraphy and decorative arts from key Qur’anic chapters, as well as the “Hadith and Khutbat Hijat Al Wadaa (Farewell Sermon)” section, which explored the values of unity, mercy, and spiritual guidance taught by the Prophet.