The future of tradition, Haus der Kunst, Munich

The future of tradition, Haus der Kunst, Munich

A century ago, the exhibition “Masterpieces of Muhammadan Art” at the Haus der Kunst in Munich, Germany, introduced the Western world to the artistic splendors of the East. Artists such as Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc, along with thousands of other visitors, were inspired by the works’ colorful abstractions and technical brilliance. One hundred years later, thirty of the pieces from the original exhibition have been reintroduced alongside contemporary and previously unexhibited examples of Islamic art, design, photography and fashion. The juxtaposition highlights issues, such as how we define Islamic art today, the role of the avant-garde in past and contemporary art, and how the 1910 exhibition was a turning point for the reception and exploration of Islamic art in the West. These and other perspectives are explored in lively essays by scholars and curators. Beautiful color reproductions allow readers to appreciate the enduring traditions as well as the remarkable developments in Islamic art.