IN 2016, I walked into the British Museum, crossing off an item on my bucket list. At the time, there was a wayang kulit display at the upper galleries.
As I walked through the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, China, Japan and earlier civilisation galleries, I noticed that there was no gallery dedicated to Southeast Asia, or the Nusantara kingdoms.
But the opening of the Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic World at the museum in London on Oct 18 brought some consolation.
The gallery features objects that give an overview of cultural exchange from the 7th century to the present day with artefacts from Southeast Asia to West Africa.
This reflects strong links between the ancient and medieval as well as modern worlds.
What is fascinating is that the place and role of other faiths and communities, including Muslims, Christians, Jews and Hindus, reflected throughout the gallery, showing their significant contributions to the social, economic and cultural life of the Nusantara world.
This is a demonstration of how people of different faiths can live together in peace and harmony throughout the ages.
The creation of the Albukhary Foundation Gallery is a stamp of excellence for Malaysia. We must thank the Al-Bukhary Foundation for championing arts and culture through its Islamic Arts Museum (IAM) at Perdana Botanical Gardens in Kuala Lumpur, and now at the British Museum.
This is echoed by museum director Hartwig Fisher, who said:
“The Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic World allows us to display this world-class collection to tell a more universal story of Islam in a global context.
“I am grateful to the Albukhary Foundation and the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia for supporting this important new gallery.”
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said: “It is indeed a historic event for the Islamic Art Museum Malaysia and a notable achievement for the Al-Bukhary Foundation.
“I am proud that the Albukhary Foundation had the foresight to bring this idea to reality.”
He said that over the last 20 years since IAM was established, the promotion of Islamic art has seen vibrancy in Malaysia.
The gallery at the British Museum comprises two rooms presenting the cultures of the Islamic world from West Africa to Southeast Asia. It highlights the diversity of peoples and their traditions, and the connections between them. Among the artefacts on display at the gallery are ceramic water filters and wares, games and musical instruments.
There are also textile and jewellery. Items on display from Malaysia include a keris from Kedah with an ivory hilt, and several pending, or belt buckles.
There is a wooden panel from Terengganu that represented the Malay interpretation of the arabesque leaf scroll.
I look forward to visiting the Al-Bukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic World one day.
ZALINA ABDUL AZIZ
Kuala Lumpur