‘Five Pillars’ refers to the Five Pillars of Islam, which are the core beliefs and practices central to the Muslim faith: the Profession of Faith (shahada), Prayer (salat), Alms (zakat), Fasting (swam) and Pilgrimage (hajj). This exhibition celebrates Muslim identities and Islamic culture by featuring work by current students, doctoral researchers, alumni and members of the community.
The exhibition aims to create awareness about the lived experiences of Muslims and explore the notion of ‘new futures’ through the display of objects and narratives. It supports an inclusive, fair, and respectful culture, in which all people can realise their full potential, which is key to a thriving society.
‘Five Pillars’ is curated by Dr Kerri Akiwowo, Senior Lecturer in Textiles at the School of Design and Creative Arts and Co-Director for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (School of Design and Creative Arts).
This exhibition is part of a funded research project led by Dr Line Nyhagen, Professor of Sociology at the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. The study is a collaboration with the Aziz Foundation who support British Muslims through educational opportunities to bring positive change to their communities and beyond. The exhibition is supported by Loughborough University’s Vibrant and Inclusive Communities strategic theme and LU Arts.
The mural installed on the glass frontage to the exhibition space was designed by Muqaddas Yasin, a first-year graphic design student at the University. Describing their design, Muqaddas commented: “My illustrated ‘Five Pillars’ design was created with conveying personal journeys and informative visuals in mind.
“As a hijabi Muslim, I’ve pondered these five core practices often and aim to incorporate them into my everyday life. I began looking into the history of Eastern Islamic art, as seen adorned on many artefacts and books Muslims use today.
“Discovering it was a key factor in the construction of Art Deco. I wanted to explore this alongside Art Nouveau, two movements I love and thought parallel the complexities of nature and order in Islam well. I used decorative elements, hiding minute religious details within each panel, and used key objects and imagery to depict each practice. However, I wanted to be able to craft each design from a joint perspective of different lived experiences, so I asked family and friends “What does each pillar mean to you?” and sought to design a collection that would resonate across communities.”
Find out more information about the exhibition on the LU Arts event page.