The Future of Tradition/The Tradition of Future: 100 Years After the Exhibition Masterpieces of Muhammadan Art in Munich

A century ago, the exhibition "Masterpieces of Muhammadan Art" at the Haus der Kunst in Munich, Germany, introduced the Western world to the colorful abstractions and technical brilliance of art from the Middle East. One hundred years later, 30 of the pieces from the original exhibition have been reintroduced and are presented here alongside contemporary and previously unexhibited examples of Islamic art, design, photography, and fashion. The juxtaposition highlights such issues as how we define Islamic art today, the role of the avant-garde in past and contemporary art, and how the 1910 exhibition was a turning point for the reception and exploration of Islamic art in the West.