Exhibition: “Geometric Aljamía: A Cultural Transliteration”

“Geometric Aljamía: A Cultural Transliteration” is a travelling exhibition co-curated by Reni Gower and Jorge Benitez that is a cross-cultural collaboration addressing how connections between the Middle East and West during the Golden Age of Islamic Civilization continue to be relevant and vibrant in the 21st century. This exhibition features contemporary artists and designers from Afghanistan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Canada and the United States. Since ancient times, geometric perfection (circle, square, and triangle) has been thought to convey sacred and secular truths by reflecting the fractal interconnections of the natural world. The Artists in “Geometric Aljamía: A Cultural Transliteration” explore geometry as a fundamental aspect of art and as a way to communicate universal ideas across cultures. Aljamía is a medieval Spanish word that refers to Romance languages written in Arabic script. This transliteration contributed to the dissemination of the Arabic language and Islamic influences throughout the Iberian Peninsula and beyond. By understanding the arts as a transliteration of one form of thinking to another and addressing the fundamental patterns embedded in visual art, this exhibition revisits the ongoing impact of Islamic art, science, and philosophy throughout the world today.