The National Museum of Korea has launched its first long-term exhibition dedicated to Islamic art, marking a significant cultural milestone for Seoul. The exhibition, titled "Islamic Art: A Journey of Splendor," features 83 carefully selected works from the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar, and will run from Saturday through October 11, 2026. This groundbreaking collaboration comes at a time when Islamic culture is gaining greater presence in Korean society, with an estimated 300,000 Muslims among South Korea's roughly 2 million foreign residents.
The exhibition addresses the relative unfamiliarity many Koreans have with Islamic culture by presenting it in an accessible and educational format. "We broadened the theme and reorganized the exhibition so that Korean visitors, for whom Islamic culture may still feel unfamiliar, can more easily understand it," explained NMK curator Kwon Hye-eun during a preview on Friday. The 11-month duration of the exhibition reflects Qatar's regulations limiting overseas loans of cultural artifacts to less than one year, according to Museum of Islamic Art officials.
The gallery space itself has been designed to immerse visitors in Islamic architectural aesthetics. Visitors enter through an octagonal layout that evokes the atmosphere of stepping into a mosque, with geometric patterns featured prominently throughout the decorative elements. This design choice reflects the fundamental principles of Islamic art, which conveys the glory and teachings of God exclusively through calligraphy and decorative design rather than human or animal figures, due to Islam's prohibition of idolatry.
One of the exhibition's most significant pieces greets visitors at the entrance: a folio from a monumental Quran manuscript, one of the largest surviving Quran manuscripts in existence. This remarkable work is believed to have been commissioned by Timur, the 14th-century founder of the Timurid dynasty in Central Asia. The exhibition also showcases Islam's flourishing tradition of calligraphy through various resplendent transcriptions of the Quran, demonstrating the artistic mastery that developed around sacred texts.
Among the exhibition highlights is a 19th-century manuscript of the prayer book Dalail al-Khayrat, produced during the Ottoman Empire period. "In this small booklet, you see Medina on the left and Mecca with the Kaaba on the right," curator Kwon explained while displaying the intricate work. She noted the cultural connections already present in daily life, stating, "Even our use of the word 'mecca' comes from this Islamic city. Elements of Islamic culture, like Arabic coffee, are already part of our daily lives. I hope the exhibition helps visitors move past some of their preconceptions."
The exhibition features several masterpieces that demonstrate the sophistication of Islamic craftsmanship. The Throne Carpet from the 17th century stands out as one of the finest carpets produced under Persia's Safavid dynasty. Measuring more than 250 centimeters in length, this exquisite carpet was likely intended for use in a royal throne room. Also on display are illuminated folios from the Shahnama (Book of Kings), commissioned by Tahmasp I of the Safavid Empire, which are renowned worldwide for their dazzling beauty and intricate detail.
The 83 works on display encompass a wide range of Islamic artistic expression, including Quran manuscripts, craftworks, textiles, and miniature paintings. To ensure proper conservation, some items, particularly the delicate manuscripts, will be rotated throughout the exhibition period. This careful approach allows visitors to experience the full breadth of Islamic artistic achievement while preserving these precious cultural artifacts.
A special installation at the end of the gallery recreates a typical reception room from a noble household in the late Ottoman Empire in Damascus, the modern-day capital of Syria. This "Damascus Room" is one of the signature spaces of the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha and provides visitors with an immersive experience of Islamic domestic architecture and design. The installation helps contextualize the artworks within their original cultural and social environments.
The Museum of Islamic Art, which co-organized this exhibition, was founded in 2008 as part of Qatar Museums' ambitious initiative to transform Doha into a global center for culture. Qatar Museums, established in 2005 as a government body overseeing the country's cultural institutions, has been instrumental in this cultural transformation. The MIA building itself was designed by renowned Chinese American architect I.M. Pei, who is best known for creating the iconic Louvre Pyramid.
"Qatar has a vision to become a global capital of culture and dialogue. That is why we are developing diverse programs at home and abroad, and we are very pleased to be collaborating with Korea in this effort," said Shaikha Nasser Al-Nassr, director of the MIA, during a meeting with reporters in Seoul on Friday. The Museum of Islamic Art houses approximately 100,000 works in its collection, with 800 pieces currently on view in Doha.
This Seoul collaboration represents the beginning of a promising relationship between the Museum of Islamic Art and the National Museum of Korea, with both institutions expressing strong commitment to long-term partnership. "Korean culture is extremely popular in Qatar, and its presence is very strong," Al-Nassr noted. "At the Qatar World Cup in 2022, BTS performed at the opening ceremony, which received an enthusiastic response and further boosted interest" in Korean culture.
Dr. Mounia Chekhab Abudaya, deputy director of the MIA, expressed hope that the exhibition will help challenge longstanding misconceptions about Islamic culture. "Globally, there is still a very negative perception of Islam and the role of women, but if you look at historical records, women in the Islamic world often had significant rights," she explained. "If you look at our delegation today in Seoul, you have already the answer that women are empowered in Qatar. We also have women who were patrons in the arts of Islam."
Looking toward the future, the Museum of Islamic Art continues to expand its mission of cultural dialogue and understanding. Dr. Abudaya revealed that their next exhibition in Doha will focus on Afghanistan and will include a full section dedicated to women photographers who represent the voices of that country. This ongoing commitment to showcasing diverse perspectives within Islamic culture aligns with the broader goals of both institutions to foster cross-cultural understanding and appreciation through art.
