Doha, Qatar: The exhibition ‘Fashioning an Empire: Textiles from Safavid Iran’ has opened at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and will be on view in MIA’s Sheikh Saoud Gallery until April 20, 2024, highlighting the significance of silk in the vibrant social, economic, and artistic life of the Safavid Empire (1501-1736).
It was first conceived by and presented at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, Washington, DC, and shown as part of the Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture.
Planned under the direction of MIA curator Dr. Nicoletta Fazio, ‘Fashioning an Empire: Textiles from Safavid Iran’ expands on the original exhibition concept, as conceived and organised in Washington, DC.
Powerful intermediaries for new artistic ideas that stimulated a new visual language, such textiles were among the most desirable luxury commodities traded across the globe at the time.
The exhibition is further enriched by a set of four full-length portraits which provide a glimpse into the diverse population and the opulence that characterised the Safavid imperial capital of Isfahan.
The exhibition begins with a presentation of the geographical and historical setting in which the Safavid ruler, Shah Abbas I, established the silk monopoly and state-funded textile industry. The second part focuses on Isfahan, the capital at the time, and the empire’s main marketplace. The third part explores the art and practices of self-representation in Safavid society through fashion, pairing historical textiles with contemporary paintings and written sources.
The fourth and final section, ‘Fashion Forward’, bridges the past with the present, displaying a selection of specially commissioned pieces, garments, and handbags created by Qatar-based designers inspired by Safavid textiles and paintings from MIA’s permanent collection.
“The Museum of Islamic Art is proud to present ‘Fashioning an Empire: Textiles from Safavid Iran’ exhibition featuring a selection of extraordinary textiles from its collection,” Dr. Julia Gonnella, Director of MIA said.