The MIAH Foundation is delighted to announce that our next exhibition at the MIAH Islamic Arts & Heritage Gallery in Balsall Heath, Birmingham will be Fabric of Faith: the Arts & Textiles of the Hajj. The exhibition will explore how the annual pilgrimage of Hajj has inspired pilgrims, artists and art over the centuries through historic artworks, textiles, ephermera, and the memoribilia of pilgrims from the West Midlands.
Bringing together objects from private collections to be displayed together for the first time, some of the highlights of the exhibition include a stunning mahmal (processional palanquin), which carried the new kiswa for the Kaaba and led the pilgrim caravan from Cairo to Makkah, and a textile covering (sitāra) of the door to the Kaaba – both from the rule of the Ottoman Sultan, Abdul Majid II; other textiles from the holy sites in Makkah and Madinah; old photographs of pilgrims and the holy sanctuary; historical objects and artworks that were inspired by the holy sites, and a few selected contemporary works of art. These will be displayed alongside personal objects of memorabilia and ephemera from the local community.
Dates: 8th May - 28th June 2025 on Thursdays to Saturdays (dates subject to interest - initially only the first four weeks of slots will be released. Further weeks to be released according to demand).
To register your interest for the 8th May Preview or for FREE early release tickets during May, please click on the 'REGISTER' button BEFORE 10th April 2025. You will be directed to our Eventbrite page to register your interest and will be contacted first to book your slot before any remaining slots are open to the public. We are doing it this way as there are limited spaces and many of our events get fully booked within 24 hours - this ensures that our supporters who take a little longer before seeing the posts have an equal chance to register.
WANT TO BE A PART OF THE EXHIBITION? SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS & SOUVENIRS
Although the majority of the exhibition will display historical objects, we would like to give people the opportunity to be a part of the exhibition by submitting objects that can be used to demonstrate either the rites of the Hajj or how their own pilgrimage (or that of loved ones) inspired them. Deadline for expressions of interest to submit an object: Thursday 10th April 2025. For details of the objects and stories we are looking for and how to submit your objects for consideration, please go to our News page or CLICK HERE.
IMAGE: A painting of the Kaaba on an Ottoman qibla indicator that will be on display as part of the Fabric of Faith exhibition. ©MIAH Foundation