With thanks for the generous support provided by Yinka Shonibare and Guest Projects

MANIFESTING THE UNSEEN: LONDON 2018

Manifesting the Unseen began as a discussion led by exhibition curator and poet Nazia Mirza on the invisibility of marginalised identities in public space and how for many in the West, Islamic art, including the poetic voices of the Muslim world, remains a hidden treasure. Working with this element of the exhibition, and in recognition of the erasure Black Muslim Women experience at multiple levels (including from Muslim led initiatives and institutions) photographer Wasi Daniju has been invited to exhibit a series of her photographs of Black Muslim Women; recently exhibited at the Everyday Muslim Symposium: An exploration of Black Muslims in British history and heritage. In Daniju’s own words

“[W]e exist, we are here, we’ve been here for a long time and you need to be able to see us.”

2018 Crowdfunding campaign

4 minute clip with information about our 2018 crowdfunding campaign, including artist interviews.

Filmed and edited by Esra Alhamal

2018 Mehfil and other events

In 2018, alongside the visual arts, and in keeping with the rich tradition of poetry in the Muslim world, Manifesting the Unseen invited a series of established and emerging women poets to construct a series of ekphrastic poems inspired by the artworks in their London show. These poems were later performed at a Mehfil (recital) as one of a series of events offered as part of the exhibition.

The exhibition also featured a number of panel discussions with the artists and specially curated guest speakers, as well as a series of workshops throughout December 2018 offering the public the chance to learn about and practice: Islamic geometry, painting & illumination and calligraphy.

The images below provide a beautiful reminder of what we achieved together.

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