ABU DHABI: The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC) has launched an engaging and interactive series of public talks and discussions which explore the historic collections and unique artefacts on display at the Hajj: Memories of a Journey exhibition, held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Hosted at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism-Abu Dhabi, the extensive programme will commence on Wednesday, Jan.24, and will feature a series of events which will allow audiences to delve deeper into the narrative of Hajj and the development of the Islamic arts over the years, fostering and encouraging public awareness of the cultural values that flourished during the various stages of Islamic civilisation.

The programme has been designed to further enhance the cultural discourse shaped by the themes and objectives of the exhibition. It also stems from SZGMC’s vision and mission to encourage public dialogue about the noble values that emanate from the spirit and essence of Islam, strengthening Islamic discourse amongst visitors from around the world.

The inaugural session, entitled Historical Hajj Routes at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, will be hosted by Dr Andrew Petersen, Director of Research in Islamic Archaeology at the University of Wales, UK, and will highlight the major Hajj routes that pilgrims embarked on over the years. Historically, the journey lasted months as pilgrims travelled in caravans on foot from their home cities to Makkah, following in the paths of pilgrims before them.  The second talk in the series, entitled Every Object Tells a Story, will be held on Saturday, Feb.24, and will help audiences explore the stories of the stunning objects that lie at the heart of the Hajj: Memories of a Journey exhibition, shedding light on the importance of objects in communicating Islamic history and the centrality of Hajj for Muslims around the world.

The series will conclude with the Manuscripts, Illumination Art & Calligraphy talk on Monday, Mar.19, with an extensive discussion hosted by Venetia Porter, Islamic and Contemporary Middle East Art Curator from the British Museum. This will delve into the historical significance of Arabic calligraphy in Islamic manuscripts, allowing audiences to take a closer look at some of the unique objects in the exhibition, apart from exploring the significant role of artists across the Islamic world who use calligraphy to transform writings into unique pieces of art.

Welcoming more than 67,000 visitors until Dec.2017, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has served as a vital platform for cultural learning and exploration – as seen by the growing popularity of the Hajj: Memories of a Journey exhibition, which features more than 182 pieces of Islamic manuscripts, archival photographs, and historical and contemporary works of art. This works in line with the efforts and initiatives of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, as it bolsters its position as a global cultural attraction for millions of visitors from across the globe.