EXHIBITION STATEMENT
What does it mean to be a Contemporary Muslim Artist in the 21st century? These North Carolina based Muslim artists tackle this question head-on through their thoughtful works that bridge traditional aesthetics with the contemporary, telling their own stories and taking the narrative of what it means to be Muslim today into their own hands. In speaking with steering committee member and the founder of Artist Ummah, Kulsum Tasnif, she expressed the importance of this work for today’s audiences. She mentioned that after the events of September 11, 2001 many Muslim artists found comfort in their own circles after facing discrimination from the public, creating safe spaces within their own communities where they could rely on each other for support at such a turbulent time. Others became active outside Muslim spaces to dispel stereotypes, using art as a way to combat dehumanizing narratives perpetuated by the media. Twenty-three years later these communities are still dealing with decades of continued oppression and lack of visibility not only in the public, but also in the arts at large.
When work began on this project more than a year ago we did not fully understand the importance that this exhibition would carry and the uncanny timeliness of it, especially in regards to the ongoing conflict in Palestine. Through centering these artists and allowing them to take over VAE’s gallery space, we seek to present an exhibition that not only brings awareness to the historical circumstances related to Muslim identity, but also celebrates the rich and diverse identities of Muslim people from the river to the sea, and beyond. This exhibition would not have been possible without the help and continued guidance of our wonderful steering committee members - Lela Ali, Rakan DiarBakerli, Waad Husein, and Kulsum Tasnif; or without the participation of the incredible artists that are allowing us to share their work, many of which have never publicly exhibited their work before. VAE is honored to present Contemporary Muslim Art of North Carolina to you and we hope that when you experience the exhibition you can take away just how radical and crucial community has the power to be.
This exhibition was funded with a Community Spotlight Grant provided by the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County.
