SHAMAILS IN QUL SHARIF (KAZAN)

A role, shamails has always been playing in Tatar society, goes far beyond Islamic art. The Arabic script eponimizes both traditions of centuries-old written language and particular history and intellectual wealth of Tatars. This is the secret of revival of the art of Tatar Shamail in the 90’s of the last century and a growing vogue in the last decade.

In 2009 it resulted into a exhibition of the most rarified shamails in Moscow, which took place in the State Museum of Oriental Art and was held by the State Museum of Fine Art of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Mardjani Foundation and the Institute of the Language, Literature and Art of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan.

    

An exhibition celebrating an opening of the Exposition Art Center for Shamails and Calligraphy at Qol Sharif Mosque in Kazan starts on May, 19 2010. The shamails range from copies of printed shamails from the collection of the Mardjani Foundation to modern glass and graphic art works by calligraphers of  Alif Association and the Professional Society for Tatar Art and Culture “KTIK”.

 

Tatarstani calligraphers are active members of home and international art projects, working on popularization of shamails as a living national tradition of Volga-Ural region. Thus the Exposition Art Center for Shamails and Calligraphy at Qol Sharif Mosque in Kazan has become a good professional and educational site for both artists and art specialist to develop and exchange ideas on the republic level.

 

The exhibition concept and project idea are by Rustem Shamsutov.

 

The exhibition is being organized by the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Preserve “Kazan Kremlin”, the Museum of the Islamic Culture and  Professional Society for Tatar Art and Culture “KTIK”.

 

The project is made possible by Tatnefthiminvest-holding Plc., the Mardjani Publishing House Ltd. and the Mardjani Foundation for Research and Cultural Programs. 

 

Catalogue "Tatar Shamail"