MANIFESTING THE UNSEEN: SOUTHAMPTON 2021

*Detailed view of “The Rose” by Jeea Mirza*

In bringing the exhibition to Southampton the collective have produced new work inspired by the city’s maritime history and its reputation as the ‘Gateway to the World’. This deep connection to the sea and the stars, that have for centuries been used to navigate and explore the world, is one shared with Islam. During the medieval period the fields of astronomy, geometry, navigation, trigonometry and cartography blossomed through the work of scientists in the Islamic World. This pursuit of knowledge was partly inspired by the specific requirements in Islam that mean Muslims need to determine the direction of Mecca, and the time for prayers, from any place on earth. Artists were asked to consider this shared history and to develop new work, reflecting in particular on the following verse from the holy Quran.

And He it is who appointed the stars to you, that you might guide yourselves by them through the darkness of land and sea. We have distinguished the signs for a people who know.

*“The Seen and The Unseen” by Nazira Bibi*

The Quran, Sura VI, verse 97 (Al-An’am)

Manifesting The Unseen: Southampton 2021 is an exhibition with many elements that will see the celebration of Islamic art across the city.

Alongside the visual arts, and in keeping with the rich tradition of poetry in the Muslim world, Manifesting the Unseen will once again also invite a series of established and emerging Muslim women poets to create new work alongside our visual artists which will be performed at a Mehfil (recital) as one of a series of events offered as part of the exhibition. The exhibition will also feature a panel discussion with artists, talks, artist led tours of the exhibition and a series of free workshops offering the public the chance to learn about and practice: Islamic geometry, painting & illumination and calligraphy.

Manifesting the Unseen will also work with Solent Showcase Gallery to host a special ‘How we did this?’ training workshop to support local creatives from Muslim and other minority backgrounds to learn from our experiences.