Cartwright Hall Museum approached me to commission an artwork to reflect the 100 years of World War I.
A display in the Sculpture Court about Imran Qureshi’s work including photographs and videos of other works. Reception corridor: a display of work by locally based artists in response to 100 years of World War I.
The artists are Zareena Bano, Razwan Ul Haq, Mussarat Rahman, Christella Litras, Rob Green, Qashif Masud, Dipak Mistry. The works are made in diverse media including painting, poetry, photography, music and calligraphy.
Brotherhood
When sharing Islam with other faiths, the golden rule is to treat others the way they would like to be treated. This is echoed by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessing Be Upon Him) on many occasions. Many scholars regards this as the root of all good manners and character. The primary expression is stated in the following tradition,
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger (Peace & Blessings Be Upon Him), said:
لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ أَوْ قَالَ لِجَارِهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ
None of you has faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 13
The calligraphy used in this artwork is of this tradition. Many scholars interpret ‘brother’ in this and other traditions as the universal brotherhood that includes all of humanity. The sweeping calligraphy, cut in European Walnut flows on the American White Ash tree slice. 100 poppies were scattered around marking the Centenary of World War 1.
Calligraphy by Samir Malik.
