Photo cutlines: Henna Bikers
<br>Photography by Hassan Hajjaj
<br>Ed. of 3
<br>2010/1431
<br>Courtesy of the Artist
<br>[Background Information: London-based Moroccan artist Hajjaj aimed to depict the strength and independence of this group of women who work 10-hour days painting henna on tourists in Marrakech, speak several languages, raise families, bike to work, and in one case, built her own home. The frame border is meant to evoke the mosaics of Morocco and the clothing reflects Morocco’s characteristic as a colorful nation with a strong sense of tradition.]

Oct. 18, 2017

VCU presents seventh Hamad bin Khalifa Symposium on Islamic Art

The biennial event, returning to the United States after 13 years, examines the contemporary art and culture of the Islamic world

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By Carrie Culpepper
Mutual Admiration Society

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts will present the seventh biennial Hamad bin Khalifa Symposium on Islamic Art, Nov. 2–4, at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Cheek Theater, 200 N. Boulevard.

Widely considered the preeminent conference on Islamic art and culture, the three-day international symposium features leading scholars and curators of Islamic art and architecture, and dynamic contemporary artists from around the world.

This year’s conference, “Islamic Art: Past, Present and Future,” features a range of topics, including the ways in which Islamic art engages with contemporary politics, global capitalism, gender, religion and history, and how Western museums have approached collecting and curating the arts of the Islamic lands.

Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani will deliver the opening address at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 2. Acclaimed Moroccan-born contemporary artist Lalla Essaydi will follow with the keynote address, “Gender, Power and Tradition.” Check-in begins at 4:30 p.m.

“Islamic Art: Past, Present and Future” is sponsored by VCUarts, VCUarts Qatar, The Qatar Foundation and Hamad bin Khalifa University. Tickets are $10 per day, and the event is open to the public.

For more information, including the full list of speakers, visit islamicartdoha.org. Register at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2888333.