Islamic art in spotlight in ‘Language of the Quran’

Islamic art is the focus of an exhibition designed to enhance understanding among different cultures

Islamic art is the focus of an exhibition designed to enhance understanding among different cultures and to showcase deserving talent and remarkable calligraphy.

“Arabic: Language of the Quran,” on view at San Francisco’s Main Library, contains more than 50 works in which contemporary artists from the Bay Area, North America and the Middle East interpret the Quran through painting, ceramics, stained glass, textiles, digital art and other media.

The show is presented by Islamic Art Exhibit, a local organization dedicated to building bridges between communities through the visual arts of the Muslim diaspora. Because Islamic art is a genre often ignored by galleries, the group presents its shows in public spaces.

The exhibit centers on the importance of the Arabic language in Islamic art because it is the language of the Quran.