Minister of "Information and Culture" Opens Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah Exhibition "Ihsan: The Art of Beauty in Mosques"

Kuwaiti officials opened the latest exhibition by the Islamic Arts Museum, titled “Ihsan: The Art of Beauty in Mosques,” on the evening of the day before yesterday. The exhibition, held under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister at the American Cultural Center, began receiving visitors on Thursday.

In a speech at the opening ceremony, Minister Omar Al-Omar stated that the bright Islamic history has never separated the spirituality of worship from the beauty of craftsmanship; rather, it has made ihsan (excellence) an ideal that permeates the details of architecture and construction. Thus, mosques throughout the ages have become oases of tranquility and mirrors reflecting the purity of faith and refined human taste. He emphasized that, under the wise leadership of the State of Kuwait, the material and spiritual architecture of mosques are two sides of the same coin: building structures enhances their splendor, while building hearts fills them with faith, love, and brotherhood. He added that through this event, “we renew our commitment to continue supporting every effort that consolidates these authentic values and highlights the bright civilizational face of our beloved country.”

He noted that what distinguishes this exhibition is that it began with children’s questions and curiosity as they admired the beauty of mosques and asked how these works were made and why such effort was devoted to perfecting them. From these questions arose the idea of the exhibition and its educational journey, making children key partners in the experience. Minister Al-Omar recalled the esteemed achievements of the late Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah, may God have mercy on him, and his passion for Islamic art and heritage, noting his dedication to ensuring that the Al-Sabah Collection served the State of Kuwait and enriched its cultural life.

He praised the efforts of Sheikh Hessa Al-Salim Al-Sabah, General Supervisor of the Islamic Arts Museum, and her continuous patronage of everything that enriches the cultural and civilizational landscape in our “beloved homeland.” He also thanked the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters and all the workers and organizers of the exhibition for their dedication and outstanding preparation of this distinguished event.

For her part, Exhibition Coordinator Engineer Maha Al-Eissa said in her speech that the goal from the beginning was not merely to provide children with information about Islamic art, but to give them space for inquiry, research, and exploration. “We started with a simple question: Is there art in the mosque?” She added that every answer the children found led to a new question, until they ultimately arrived at a deeper question: Why does a person devote so much time and effort to making something functional beautiful? From there, they arrived at the meaning of ihsan.

For his part, Anwar Al-Mutairi, CEO of Kuwait Shell Company, said in a similar speech that the concept of ihsan represents a profound human value that transcends the boundaries of art and architecture; it reflects the pursuit of excellence and doing one’s best in service of society. This value is among the principles we believe in at Shell. Al-Mutairi expressed “pride” in partnering with the Islamic Arts Museum, a “prestigious institution” that succeeds in reviving heritage and presenting it to new generations through innovative methods that make history a source of inspiration for learning, creativity, and discovery.

For his part, Khaled Al-Shamlan, CEO of Kuwait Finance House, emphasized in his speech the importance of the integrated partnership and continuous cooperation with the Islamic Antiquities Administration over the past years, stating that “this partnership gains special importance based on the belief that Islamic civilization represents an integrated system of values and principles that Kuwait Finance House strives to embody in its operations, partnerships, and sustainable initiatives.”