STANFORD — On view for the time in the United States, “The Jameel Prize: Art Inspired by Islamic Tradition” opened in December 12 at Stanford University's Cantor Arts Center. This special exhibition presented the work of 10 artists selected as finalists for the prestigious Jameel Prize, an international award bestowed by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and in partnership with Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives (ALJCI). The Jameel Prize, awarded for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic tradition, encourages the exploration of long-established practices of Islamic art, craft and design within a contemporary framework. The resulting exhibition demonstrates that artists can and do use these traditions in ways that are vividly relevant to the contemporary world. The prize also fosters a wider debate about Islamic culture and its role today. President of ALJCI International Fady Jameel said that it has been a pleasure working with the V&A on the Jameel prize tour, as well as providing the support to the creative exhibition in Cantor Arts. Jameel also commented that he was confident that the prize will reach out to aspiring artists all over the world and will help educate the audience to gain a better understanding and appreciation of Islamic Art. The Jameel Prize is truly international. Awarded every two years, it is open to all entrants and not restricted to Muslims or those from the Islamic world. Entry for the Jameel Prize is by nomination. For the 2011 Jameel Prize, almost 200 artists and designers were put forward from countries as diverse as the United States, Spain, Nigeria, Egypt and Pakistan. From this list, 10 finalists were selected, with Rachid Koraïchi chosen as a winner. More than 20 items that draw on the artists' and designers' own local and regional traditions, celebrating particular materials and iconography with strong references to traditional Islamic art will be on display. The artworks on view ranged from felt costumes to sculptural installations made from handmade terracotta bricks, from mirror mosaic to digital collages inspired by classical Persian miniature paintings. In many of the pieces, there is an underlying reference to the artists' own “hybrid” cultural identity, in addition to the contrast between old and new, minimalizm and ornament, home and exile. The exhibition is organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum London (V&A) in partnership with the Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives. We also gratefully acknowledge the support of Cantor Arts Center Members and the Sohaib and Sara Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies at Stanford University, which has made possible the exhibition's presentation at Stanford. Take a journey around the world: from Africa to the Americas to Asia, from classical to contemporary. There is so much to discover at the Cantor. With 24 galleries plus sculpture gardens, collections that span 5,000 years, a world-famous Rodin collection, changing exhibitions, frequent tours, and free programs, there is something for everyone at the Cantor. Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives (ALJCI) was founded in 2003. From individual, community and Arab life as a whole in Saudi Arabia and beyond, ALJCI has the welfare of individuals and community at heart. By promoting Arab arts and culture in the Middle East and around the world, working to resolve unemployment, enabling research for poverty alleviation, and providing education and training opportunities, ALJCI has successfully promoted positive social change. Today it supports and partners with global institutions, which employ hundreds of people, all aiming to provide people with opportunities and training to pursue their career dreams and to challenge rising levels of unemployment. More information is available at www.aljci.org. Victoria and Albert is one of the greatest Museums worldwide specialized with Arts and Design. It contains pieces of art that no other place has. The art work overall shows no less than 3000 years of ancient history from the world's rich culture. — SG
