"Lantern" Announced as the Theme of the 26th Edition of the Islamic Arts Festival

"Lantern" Announced as the Theme of the 26th Edition of the Islamic Arts Festival

Al Qaseer: The Festival’s Global Presence Is a Result of the Ruler of Sharjah’s Patronage

The Higher Committee of the Islamic Arts Festival has chosen "Lantern" as the theme for the 26th edition, which will take place next November under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in line with His Highness’s vision on the importance of arts as a creative dimension and a global civilizational language.

This was announced during a meeting chaired by Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of Cultural Affairs at the Department of Culture in Sharjah and Director of the Festival, alongside the committee members.

Mohammed Al Qaseer said: “The global presence enjoyed by the Islamic Arts Festival is thanks to the patronage of His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah, for all arts, as they serve as a bridge that extends the language of civilizational dialogue among the peoples of the world. This artistic event continues, in its new edition, to affirm His Highness’s cultural and artistic vision, highlighting an authentic historical art—Islamic art—which has long inspired many artists around the world.”  

Al Qaseer stated that the theme of the 26th edition was selected after artistic discussions among the Higher Committee members, confirming that among many proposals, "Lantern" was chosen due to its significance that aligns with the nature of the artistic event.

The Director of Cultural Affairs pointed out that the festival’s theme focuses on the symbolic and artistic meanings of the lantern, noting that the lantern suggests light, evokes ideas, and, just as it calls forth limitless images, it creates light slowly. He emphasized that the lantern, in this context, is not only a material object but also an essence—it does not stop at the function of illumination but goes beyond to become a gateway into the depths of the human soul.

Commenting further on the theme, the Festival Director said: “The lantern is also history, and to examine its historical path necessarily brings us back to distant times. The lantern clearly expresses Islamic art, as it emerged as one of the early pieces of Islamic history, during a time when lighting fixtures were an essential part of Islamic arts. They were integrated with Islamic architecture and various decorative and applied elements found in artworks.”

He continued: “It is essential to link the lantern to history, and this is what the current edition’s theme of the Islamic Arts Festival seeks to achieve, beginning with examining the symbolic and spiritual values of the lantern, and passing through the historical periods in which it was a vital part of human life and the map of global art.”

While the Higher Committee will begin extending invitations to artists from around the world in the coming period, participants will be expected to create new ideas in line with the theme of the edition, "Lantern", and the artworks will later be selected based on their relevance to the theme.

It is worth noting that the Islamic Arts Festival was launched in 1998 by the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and has since reintroduced a new artistic vision for Islamic arts, maintaining their aesthetic presence and historical symbolism.