The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and the National Museum of Korea (NMK) present Islamic Art: A Journey of Splendor, a landmark exhibition introducing audiences in Seoul to one of the world’s most significant collections of Islamic art. The presentation traces the evolution of artistic expression across regions extending from Spain to China, highlighting the cultural networks, scientific achievements, and aesthetic languages that shaped artistic production across the Islamic world.
More than 80 works are brought together, offering a broad survey of 1,400 years of creativity. Rare Quranic manuscripts reveal the development of calligraphic styles, from early Kufic script on parchment to later pages adorned with vegetal illumination and intricate geometric ornament. Ceramic vessels illustrate technical advances in lustreware and underglaze-painted designs, while glass objects demonstrate the refinement of enamel and gilding techniques that flourished in Syrian and Egyptian workshops. Textiles, including embroidered fragments and silk panels, reflect the movement of patterns along trade routes linking Central Asia, the Gulf, and the Mediterranean. Scientific instruments such as astrolabes testify to the intellectual exchanges that connected scholars across major cities, while courtly objects – including jewelled metalwork and inlaid brass – evoke the sophistication of royal patronage.
The exhibition is structured in three sections. The first examines the spiritual foundations of Islamic art through sacred manuscripts, architectural elements, and devotional objects. The second explores the expansion of Islamic culture through trade, translation, and the circulation of artistic ideas. The third focuses on courtly traditions, presenting manuscripts, luxury objects, and narrative painting that reveal the tastes and innovations of elite circles. The experience concludes with a digitally reconstructed 1817 Damascene reception room, recreated by MIA, allowing visitors to step inside a historic domestic interior richly decorated with painted wood panelling and geometric motifs.
Curated by Dr Mounia Chekhab Abudaya of MIA in collaboration with Kangmi Kwon, Hyeeun Kwon, and Youngwoo Kwon of NMK, the exhibition highlights shared values of craftsmanship, calligraphy, and heritage that resonate across cultures. It also forms part of Qatar Museums’ ongoing commitment to international collaboration through initiatives such as Years of Culture and is presented within Evolution Nation, an 18-month programme led by Qatar Creates reflecting on Qatar’s cultural development and future ambitions.
Location: National Museum of Korea
Date: 22 November 2025 until 11 October 2026