The Future of Tradition - The Tradition of Future

100 Years after the Exhibition 'Masterpices of Muhammedan Art' in Munich

In 1910, the largest exhibition of art from the Islamic cultural sphere took place in Munich. With almost 3,600 exhibits in 80 rooms, Masterpieces of Muhammedan Art set new standards for the research and reception of art from Muslim countries. Exactly one hundred years later, the exhibition at the Haus der Kunst recalls this epoch-making show but with a critical addition: it not only includes contemporary art, design, photography, architecture and fashion, but also provides the opportunity for contemporary artists and institutions from throughout the Islamic world to participate in the exhibition and thus provide fresh perspectives on a multitude of contemporary issues. The exhibition space, for instance, is designed by Samir el Kordy, one of Egypt's most innovative young architects, while collaboration with Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès and the Khatt Foundation allows the presentation of new developments in Arabic typography. The central space of the exhibition is devoted to the reinstallation of approximately 30 of the most distinctive and well-known artefacts originally presented in the 1910 exhibition, while contributions by invited artists and institutions fill the surrounding spaces.

The exhibition is funded by the German Federal Cultural Foundation. With the generous support of the Schörghuber Corporate Group and the Goethe Institute Egypt.