AWWAL BAIT – ISLAMIC ARTS BIENNALE 2023

AWWAL BAIT – ISLAMIC ARTS BIENNALE 2023

The first edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale, themed ‘Awwal Bait’, held at the Western Hajj Terminal in Jeddah from January 23 to April 23, 2023, features over 60 established and emerging artists from around the globe, including over 60 new commissions, 280 artefacts, and over 15 never-before-exhibited works of art. The event also features a unique multi-sensorial experience, under the artistic direction of Sumayya Vally.

 

Paper licenses – a collection of historical paper licenses that were issued to individuals who applied to be water carriers around the Haram Mosque.

 

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Awwal Bait 

The theme of ‘Awwal Bait’ refers to the Holy Ka’bah in Makkah, the most sacred site in Islam and the direction all Muslims face in their daily prayers. The theme aims to explore how the Ka’aba and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah inspire Muslims worldwide on both cultural and metaphysical levels to create a sense of belonging in their own homes, their own “bait,” wherever that may be.

The theme of Awwal Bait looks to how the source has traveled, reflecting on the migration of the first Muslims from the Awwal Bait to the city of Madinah and how rituals are carried in the construction of home and belonging. The Biennale draws on these themes, presenting experiences that surround these expressions and forms of belonging, reflecting on the role of rituals in creating connections and constructing belonging.

The biennale has 4 different zones. However, the experience encompases two complementary sections, with galleries and outdoor installations creating a dialogue between sacred sites and rituals. The principal theme of the indoor galleries is that of Qiblah, or Sacred Direction, with Makkah as the focus. The installations reflect on multiple senses of Hijrah, or Migration, from the initiation of the Muslim era to reflections on contemporary displacement and how, despite the loss of a physical home, Muslims retain their spiritual home in the Awwal Bait.

 

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Qiblah

The first part of the Biennale, Qiblah, includes a linear sequence of four galleries that explore key rituals in the Islamic faith, and the meaning of being a Muslim today. It integrates historical artefacts with contemporary artistic expressions, features large-scale installations and uses digital elements and modulated lighting to heighten the visitors’ sensorial experience.

“Qiblah” is a term in Islam that refers to the direction of the Ka’aba in Makkah, which is the holiest site in Islam. Muslims face towards the Qiblah during their daily prayers, no matter where they are in the world. The Qiblah is a unifying element for Muslims, symbolising their shared faith and common direction of worship. It is believed to have been established by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during his lifetime as a way to unify the Muslim community in their worship. The Qiblah direction can be determined using a compass or by following the direction of the sun.

The indoor galleries of the Biennale present a juxtaposition of historical artifacts and modern art installations, aiming to explore the practices and traditions of Muslim life. These exhibits follow a journey tracing the invisible line of the Qiblah, from the initial call to prayer to reaching the Ka’aba, which is the most sacred site in Islam: Adhan: The Call, Wudu: Purificaton, Salah: Prayer, Salat al-jama‘ah: Congregational Prayer, Ajal: The Allotted Span, Shawahid: Witnesses, Bait: House of God.

 

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Adhan

The Adhan is the call to prayer in Islam. It is a musical and soulful experience that echoes through the hearts of millions of Muslims worldwide. Like the melodies of nature that surround us, it connects the faithful to a higher power, drawing them closer to the divine.

 

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Wudu 

In Islam, “Hudu” or “Wudu” refers to the ritual washing of specific body parts before prayer. It is a purification process that symbolises spiritual cleansing and readiness for worship.

 

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Salat al-jama‘ah

Salat is an Islamic prayer ritual, and within the space, there is a gallery showcasing oil paintings depicting the human body in various postures of prayer. The gallery offers an immersive atmosphere, allowing visitors to embark on a visual journey that emphasises the different qualities of light at the five daily prayer times. This exhibit invites visitors to reflect upon illumination, movement, and spiritual devotion. Moving forward, the experience of individual prayer is enhanced as visitors advance to the next gallery to join the congregational prayer.

Salat al-Jumu’ah, also known as Friday Prayer, is a congregational prayer that Muslims perform on Fridays, typically during the noon hour.

 

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Ajal

After a person dies, their soul moves on to the afterlife, while the body is washed and wrapped in a simple shroud. Mourners come to visit and pay their respects to the deceased, and funeral prayers are offered. The body is buried in the ground, facing the direction of the qiblah, the sacred direction of the Ka’bah in Makkah.

 

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Bait

he Ka’bah, located in Makkah, holds a central place of spiritual and physical significance for Muslims worldwide. Known as the Awwal Bait, which means the First House of Allah, it is considered the most sacred place on earth and serves as the focal point for daily prayers and pilgrimage. Muslims from all over the world journey to this site to seek blessings and offer their devotion.

 

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Hijrah

Hijrah is an Arabic word that means migration. In Islamic history, it refers specifically to the migration of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his followers from Mecca to Medina in the year 622 CE. This event marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar and is considered one of the most significant events in Islamic history.

Hijrah, the second part of the Biennale, is spread across a wider open space under the award-winning canopy of the Hajj Terminal. Literally translating to ‘migration’, a key moment in Islam, Hijirah reflects on how rituals help build a sense of universal belonging for Muslims around the world, and the creation and evolution of a shared culture. The migration of the Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Makkah to Medinah, where they sought refuge from persecution, is considered the start of the Islamic lunar calendar and is known as Hijrah. When we contemplate the journey of the first Muslims from their initial home to the city of Medinah, we reflect on the role of rituals in building a sense of belonging and home. In many modern migration situations, which are often associated with dislocation and hardship, rituals can serve as a means of establishing connections between the past and present, and between one place and another.

 

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Holy Land, Sultan bin Fahad 

INAUGURAL ISLAMIC ARTS BIENNALE

Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Duration: 9th February – 23rd April 2023