Letters of Light

This month we also inaugurated the latest temporary exhibition at the museum, the first international exhibition of the year, called 'Letters of Light'.
This exhibition is co-curated together with Bibliothéque nationale de France. It presents the origin, form and transmission of the holy texts of the three monotheistic religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

This exhibition brings together over 240 artworks where the three monotheistic religions are represented, on an equal approach. It is a journey to the heart of the spiritual roots of human history.
For example it showcases the Dead Sea Scrolls, a Nano Bible that has been to space (!), a Guthenberg Bible, six pages of the Blue Quran and one of the oldest copies of the Quran.

Fragments of the Hammurabi code:

The exhibition also brings us the only archaeological artefact with Jewish origins found in the UAE, a tombstone with an inscription in Judeo-Persian.

The key to the Kaaba:

A prayer book from Turkey in a really unique layout:

This is not only the first time so many holy books and precious illuminated manuscripts are gathered and exhibited in this region of the world; it is also the first time that this many pages of the exquisite Blue Quran is showcased together. A real showstopper in the exhibition.

The exhibition concludes with an immersive artwork by a Saudi Arabian artist, Mohannad Shono. The Unseen is exploring the relationship between light and dark, the tangible and intangible.

The exhibition even spreads out to the outside of the museum and interacts with the white walls of the architecture. Some of the artworks from the exhibition are displayed at night (after 7pm), and it looks absolutely amazing! What a great way of promoting the exhibition, and what a beautiful artwork in itself!