NUR LIGHT - The Essence Art Exhibition - May 13 to May 29

Zee's Notes: A great exhibition - don't miss it ! Here is my favorite video of Sura Nur - I know you've seen it but indulge me...

NUR
LIGHT - The Essence
Art Exhibition
May 13 to May 29
Opening celebration: May 13 at 7:00pm
Roundhouse Community Centre
181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver
tel 604.713-1800
http://www.roundhouse.ca/index.php
A Roundhouse Partnership

Allah is the Light
Of the heavens and the earth
The likeness of His Light is as a niche
Wherein is a lamp - the lamp is in a glass
The glass as it were a brightly shining star
Kindled from a blessed Tree
An Olive neither of the East nor of the West
Whose oil is well-nigh luminous
Though no fire touched it
Light upon Light
Allah guides to His Light
Whom He Wills
(Qur'an 24:35)

Inspired by the mystical verse on light in the Qur'an (24:35), the exhibition NUR: Light - The Essence seeks to explore the multifaceted notion of light in both its popular and mystical forms - especially within a contemporary context.

Light, in both its physical and esoteric forms is a shared motif to many faiths and philosophies,
and is prevalent as a symbol of 'the good" in popular culture. Light, in poetry, philosophy and visual arts in the Islamic tradition (though not exclusive to it), is an intricately layered reality, metaphor and symbol, is not literally perceptible to the eye, but rather, concealed within the core of being itself. It is this symbolic illumination that gradually reveals the essence of things

The world seen through such a prism, becomes a series of veils to be uncovered by both outward and inward exploration, rational and intuitive intellection. In such a process of unveiling, there is a constant 'shrinking' of space between the macro and the micro, assimilation of the profound and the prosaic.

Curated by Amyn Sunderji and Jabbar al-Janabi, this exhibition is a collaboration of the artists from the Ismaili*, Iraqi and Iranian communities and features the work of:

Amir Ali Alibhai
Jabbar Al Janabi
Sherazad Jamal
Pari Azarm
Mohamed Somani
Rozita Moini Shirazi
Rubina Rajan
Riyadh Hashim
Alia Noormohamed
Nabil Adnan
Naznin Virji-Babul
Farida Mawji

Join us at 3pm on May 23rd for music and dance performances in celebration of light, with Ibrahim Hanna, Sufi dancer Tanya Evanson, and much much more. In conjunction with the exhibition Riyadh Hashim will offer workshops on Islamic Calligraphy (see the Roundhouse Program Guide for more information)

Inspired by Light? In collaboration with the exhibition NUR: Light - The Essence, World Poetry presents a Create a Poem space in the exhibition from 2-5 pm on weekdays and 1-4 pm on weekends between May 13 and May 25. World Poetry Volunteers will be on hand to support your muse and get you writing. Selected local poets will be contacted to read their poems at the World Poetry Extravaganza on May 25th.