Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) inaugurated today Al-Fann: Art from the Islamic Civilization from The Al Sabah Collection in Kuwait.

The Director General of Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyyah, Her Highness Shaikha Hessa Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah and Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) were present at the ceremony held under the auspices of HRH Princess Sabeeka.

The exhibition, co-organised by BACA and Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyyah, is one in a series of events held this year within the calendar of the "Muharraq, Capital of Islamic Culture 2018”.

HRH Princess Sabeeka praised the good selection in the exhibition and the distinctive components that reflect the authenticity and high value of the Islamic heritage. She also praised the efforts of Dar Al-Athar Al Islamiya in Kuwait to preserve the genuine Islamic heritage and highlight the spirit of art that was an outstanding feature of the successive civilizations in the Muslim countries and which is still the focus of great attention from experts across the world.

HRH Princess Sabeeka expressed her hope that the programmes and events on the "Muharraq, Capital of Islamic Culture 2018” calendar will highlight the cultural role and achievements of Bahrain in all segments of the Arab and Islamic culture and express the civilized face of Islamic culture with its bright human aspects and dimensions that consecrate the values of compassion, peace and mutual acceptance.

HRH Princess Sabeeka was briefed on the collections of Shaikh Nasser Al Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah and Shaikha Hessa Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah that have been gathered since the 1970s until today and are today considered among the most comprehensive and distinctive collections of Islamic arts in the world.

The exhibition also covers the stages of art in the Muslim countries from the first century AH (seventh century AD), ie the year 622 AD, the year of the Prophet's Hijra (migration) from Makkah to Medina, the birth of the Islamic state and the expansion of great empires in the 10th century AH.

HRH Princess Sabeeka also toured a section dedicated to manifestations of art in Muslim countries exhibited in its raw materials that include stones, wood, glass, textiles, ceramics, metalwork, ornaments and jewellery. Other sections feature the art of calligraphy and the development of decoration in geometric forms, plant decorations and the portrayal of living forms.

On this occasion, Shaikha Mai expressed her deep gratitude to HRH Princess Sabeeka for her gracious patronage of the exhibition that reflects the distinguished tires between Bahrainis and Kuwaitis who share human heritage.

Shaikha Mai also expressed her thanks to Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyyah, mainly to HH Shaikh Nasser and HH Shaikha Hessa for the special care and great interest in participating with Bahrain in its exceptional year.

HH Shaikha Hessa expressed her gratitude to HRH Princess Sabeeka for her gracious patronage and her personal attendance at the exhibition, praising her support of arts and culture in Bahrain.

HH Shaikha Hessa also thanked Shaikha Mai for the opportunity to exhibit the valuable collections that cover most of the Arab world.

Source: BNA