World Treasures in Islamic Arts Museum

Kuala Lumpur doesn’t only build luxurious and modern skyscrapers. Being Malaysian, this city also doesn’t always offer Malaysian heritage or local art and historical tourist attractions. Occupying 30,000 square meters, Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia is a place you must visit when you’re traveling to Kuala Lumpur.

                Getting there is easy. You can choose from taking a bus or simply by hiring a cab. The bus will drop you right at the main street, where you can walk for about 10 minutes inside to reach the museum. When you start seeing signage of the Butterfly Farm, Bird Park, Planetarium, Orchid Farm, and the National Mosque, then you are on the right direction. The museum is surrounded by all those attractions, in the middle of the green scenery, maintained with the turquoise-colored domes that are currently a new landmark of Kuala Lumpur.

                The Islamic Arts Museum is notable for its building because of its spectacular collection. It was opened in 1998 and since then, it has become one of the world’s leading institutions dedicated to a field that is attracting more interest than ever. Other than featuring traditional Middle Eastern and Central Asian architecture, it also combines several of contemporary international designs.  For the convenience of visitors, the museum also provides amenities such as postal services, wheelchairs, and locker rooms.

                You will be in awe as soon as you step inside the building. The pavilion that is usually being used to hold events such as art workshop and showcases, is designed with tall and transparent glass walls, and an inverted dome, crafted and decorated beautifully on the ceiling. It has marble flooring, so shining that you can even see the reflection of yourself while walking on it.

                The two special galleries which are located in lower ground and ground floor and can simply be reached by taking the elevators, hold extra exhibitions that keep changing every one month or so. Sometimes, the museum will organize educational activities here too, to increase the awareness towards Islamic arts and heritage of public and young children. There is also a Children’s Library opened for the same purpose.

                On the first floor, five galleries available for visiting are India Gallery, Malay World Gallery, China Gallery, Qur’an and Manuscript Gallery, and Architecture Gallery. Since Malaysia has the three main races; Malay, Chinese, and Indian, you’d probably want to browse through the three related galleries first.

                You will be impressed reading the stories behind every exhibit inside India Gallery. It is just like a timeline where you walk from the past to the future. Inside here, you will find out how India was founded and formed to develop to its current state now. Don’t forget to check the details of the tools used for farming and gardening, the currency, and the weapons they used during wars, from the Sultanate of Delhi, the Mughal Empire, and era of British rule and Princely states until the independence of India.

                Enjoy the quiet environment of China Gallery where many items produced for trading in the past are placed for display. These items can be of anything; metal, ceramics, textile, and weapons. This is one of the reasons why the Islamic Arts Museum became Southeast Asia largest museum of Islamic arts. The collection from ancient China to Qing Dynasty, until the modern China now, shows how Islam developed in their world.

                Malay Archipelago has been affected by Islam as well, which can be seen in Malay World Gallery. Bear in mind that Malays didn’t come only from Malaysia. Malay is an ethnic from Austronesian people that used to inhabit Malay Peninsula, some parts of Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, and Borneo. Many that visit this gallery could be confused with our Malaysian Malays, but as you go through the collection, acquiring the stories, you will be amazed at how strong the Malays in the past, protecting their land other than expanding their territory, through their knowledge in self-defense and culture with Islamic art.

                Qur’an is the holy book of Islam. Other than that, there were manuscripts written as well to serve as additional knowledge in Islam to the people. These can be viewed in Qur’an and Manuscript Gallery. Many of Qur’an copies made in canvas type of papers, bond together like a book. Some of them are even miniatures to make it easy for Islamic scholars in the past to bring around inside their pockets. You will see the beautiful Kiswa; the curtains covering the Holy Ka’aba which is located in the center of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. Take a look inside the Rehal Terrace, where it shows how Muslims use the rehal to hold the holy book in place while reading it. In addition to that, there’s also an ancient sink and basin for washing feet, where Muslims cleanse themselves before their prayers. An Ottoman room is also recently added to show a unique example of an art form from Ottoman Turkey, the kind of room would exist in the resident of rich merchants or an Ottoman governor, or even European residents.

                Architecture Gallery is a section that you must not miss. erHere is the place for you to see the largest scale model of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, the sanctuary for Muslims. The scale model is built with exact details and you can imagine how many people the real one can hold. This section also offers other scale models such as the famous Taj Mahal in India, the beautiful mosques around Middle East, and also the ones in China and other parts of Asia.

                On the second floor, you will be brought to Ceramics Gallery if you climb up using the spiral staircase. The household wares including tiles and decorations displayed are amazing and enriched with details. Instead of emphasizing only on Asia and Middle East, the gallery showcases exhibits from countries in Europe, such as Spain, Italy, and France. The 18^th and 19^th centuries marked a period in which Europe became increasingly intrigued by the Middle East and its Islamic art. European potters admired Islamic ceramics for their brilliancy of color, which they discovered was due to the base coat of the white tin slip. This is why these ceramics has vibrant glow that can attract anybody.

                Coin and Seal Gallery is just right next to it, where you can view an enormous collection of coins used as currency and seals that served as name cards for merchants and traders back in the time.  In early Islamic societies, a seal represented the image of the person, inscribed simply with the name of the owner and a pious phrase. The coins made depending on the empires and kingdoms. They have different calligraphy writings on them to symbolize their purpose in that era.

                You won’t be disappointed with Metalwork Gallery because of its collection of beautiful carved and engraved metal artwork. Back in the time, the artisans used several kinds of different tools to create such magnificent details on their crafts. Their skills are applied to weapons and armors, kitchen wares, decorations, and even jewellery that women wear.

                Jewellery is another thing you would love to see. Inside Jewellery Gallery, there’s a huge collection of necklaces, anklets, wristlets, rings and earrings, and trinkets that women decorated on their hair. Looking at the gemstones applied on these accessories will make you feel like you just dug up the world treasure chest. No one will walk away without spending a little more time here to grasp completely the image of such beauty.

                If you’re interested with knowing about Islamic wars that happened back in time, you should visit Arms & Armor Gallery. This section doesn’t only offer the historical background of each weapon including the stories of it, a full explanation is also given for those who seek to know more of how people lived in the past, dealing with crimes, and what did those criminals use to attack the people. You’ll be mesmerized seeing all kinds of swords, matchlock guns, daggers, bows and arrows, katars, curved blades, shields, and heavy armors for defense. All of these things you will never see again in other museums.

                Inside this building, you could have seen already some woodwork applied for decorative purposes. While inside Living with Wood Gallery, you will be reading even a story of it. You will fully understand why Islamic wood crafts always have floral motifs, almost similar to ones on the domes right above your head. The tools they used helped making the crafts come out smooth and presentable, differ by each kind of wood. A room has been furnished with these wooden crafts and tapestry for the visitors, protected by glass, but you still can see right through it.

                Speaking of tapestry, one last section that will spark your interest is Textile Gallery. The whole hallway is filled with textile collection of Islamic influence, from all different countries. Some of them give you the reminiscent of classical Roman decoration and some can even make you feel like you’re around a Moroccan family. Being here is a lovely feeling just like being at home. The stitches done on each fabric are so detailed and must have consumed a lot of patience and energy since they didn’t have machines as we do now to produce such artistic work.

                A visit to the Islamic Arts Museum provides more than the exhibits on display. The museum additional facilities include Museum Restaurant, the must-visit Museum Shop, auditorium, education art workshop, children’s library, and scholar’s library which is accessible by appointment. The harmony of the bright and spacious museum with its five spectacular domes that dominate its interior is maintained throughout the year, including the Islamic verse written on the entrance wall, always welcoming the public for a visit.