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Shahnaz Gallery

@shahnazgallery

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𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 & 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐭
⠀
𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐲𝐲𝐚 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝
𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐲𝐲𝐚 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐲 @adrea.ae | 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐡𝐧𝐚𝐳 𝐌𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝

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Perhaps the real treasures are the friends we made along the way.
Earlier this year it was a great privilege to attend the @islamicartsbiennale in Jeddah with The Furusiyya Art Foundation honoured as part of the “Al Muqtani” (Homage) section.

The story behind the foundation is as remarkable as the collection itself. Founded by Rifaat Medhat Sheikh El Ard and curated with dedication and scholarship by Bashir Mohamed it has been a partnership steeped in unwavering friendship, a shared vision, trust and determination, that has endured for 45 years.

The foundation already had the reputation of being the greatest collection of Furusiyya, Islamic Arms and Armour and equestrian related artworks, ever assembled but it was especially gratifying to see some of the collections non martial masterpieces exhibited for the first time ever including metalwork, ceramics and jades.

Special thanks to Dr Julian Raby Director of the biennale and William Robinson curator of the Al Muqtani section, both friends and colleagues with my father for over 40 years who brought the collection to life in an unforgettable way.

Photos:
1. Uncle Rifaat and Dad admiring the stunning 17th-century calligraphic tiles from Damascus.
2. Ottoman jewelled dagger, 16th century.
3. Dad and Dr Julian Raby, many years ago!
4. The spectacular war mask, Iran, 16th century.
5. A moment of joy caught with William Robinson and Dad.
6. An extraordinary case of Tipu Sultan’s arms and armour.
7. Uncle Rifaat and Dad, together again.
8. Aquamanile, 11th century.
9. Armour of the Mamluk Sultan al-Ashraf Inal.
10. Mughal jade, 17th century.
11. The wonderful Navina Haider and Dad.
12. Magnificent tiles from Diyarbakir, 16th century.

#furusiyya #islamicartsbiennale #furusiyyaartfoundation #islamicart #shahnazgallery #bashirmohamed by @shahnazgallery

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27

a year ago

في شبابه، قطع بشير محمد عهدًا على نفسه بأن يفهم الثقافة التي ينتمي إليها. ذلك العهد أصبح محور حياته
وغاية عمله.

على مدى ستين عامًا، تنقّل حول العالم، ودرس الأعمال الفنية وجمَعها. من نظرته الفنية الفذّة تشكّلت المعارض، ومن عنايته الدقيقة بالتفاصيل تبلورت مجالاتٌ جديدة، وكان إخلاصه هو ما مكّن العالم من رؤية الفنّ الإسلامي على حقيقته؛ تعبيرًا عن الإيمان، والهوية، والحِرفة.

واليوم، يحتضن معرض الفروسية في أبوظبي للفنون الفروسية الأميرية محطّات من تلك الرحلة، عبر مجموعة مختارة من التحف، بإعداد ابنته شهناز محمد أطلس؛ مجموعة تدعو الزوّار إلى تأمل الحكايات، والتقاليد، والقيم التي ما تزال تُلهم عالمنا.

As a young man, Bashir Mohamed made a promise to understand the culture he came from.

That promise became a life’s work. For sixty years he travelled, studied and collected. His eye shaped galleries. His care shaped a field. His devotion helped the world see Islamic art for what it truly is: an expression of belief, identity and craft.

Today, the ADREA Furusiyya Gallery holds pieces of that journey. Curated by his daughter, Shahnaz Mohamed-Atlas, the collection invites every visitor to step closer to the stories, traditions and values that continue to shape our world.

#DiscoverADREA #Furusiyya #Gallery #ShahnazGallery #EquestrianArt #ClassicalHorsemanship #VisitAbuDhabi taken in Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts by @shahnazgallery

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42

10 months ago

⁨ ⁨ ⁨ ⁨ ⁨ عهد الكرامة بين الإنسان والخيل
بإشراف شهناز محمد أطلس، يعتبر معرض الفروسيّة بوابة إلى تراث الفروسية في هذه المنطقة. فكلُّ قطعة لا تتألق بالجمال الخلاب فحسب، بل تحمل أيضًا غاية ومعنى، يلهم التفاصيل التي تميز صنعتها.
يأخذنا مسار المعرض من حِرَفية العصور القديمة إلى تعبيرات معاصرة عن الحركة. ومع كل خطوة، يتكشّف دور العلاقة بين الإنسان والخيل في رسم ملامح الحياة والسفر والفنون عبر الحضارات.
تلك الرابطة هي التي شكّلت منطقتنا، وهي النَّبض الكامن وراء كل ما ندرسه اليوم ونحفظه ونشاركه مع العالم.

The noble connection between horse and man

Curated by Shahnaz Mohamed-Atlas, the Furusiyya Gallery becomes a passage into the region’s equestrian heritage. Every artefact is not only beautiful, but purposeful in its making and use.
The journey moves from ancient craftsmanship to contemporary expressions of movement. With every shift in the gallery, you witness how the bond between horse and human shaped life, travel, and art across civilisations.

This is the bond that built our region, and the heartbeat behind everything we preserve, study, and share.

#DiscoverADREA #EquestrianArts #Furusiyya #FurusiyyaGallery #HorseHeritage #UAEHeritage #VisitAbuDhabi⁩⁩⁩⁩⁩ taken in Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts by @shahnazgallery

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61

a year ago

Last month @nomadcircle was welcomed by @adrea.ae for an intimate journey through the cultural spaces.

We started off at The Furusiyya Gallery, the exhibition celebrated and explores the timeless connection between horse and man with over 170 objects across various civilisations and cultures. The visit was followed by a visit through to the Atelier and Library, where David& Nicolas shared the creative foundations and material language that underpin @adrea.ae design philosophy.

The experience concluded with a private preview of the weekly show rehearsal which was beautiful to see!

#ceramics #islamicart #abudhabi by @shahnazgallery

3

0

10 months ago

Last month @nomadcircle was welcomed by @adrea.ae for an intimate journey through the cultural spaces.

We started off at The Furusiyya Gallery, the exhibition celebrated and explores the timeless connection between horse and man with over 170 objects across various civilisations and cultures. The visit was followed by a visit through to the Atelier and Library, where David& Nicolas shared the creative foundations and material language that underpin @adrea.ae design philosophy.

The experience concluded with a private preview of the weekly show rehearsal which was beautiful to see!

#furusiyya #islamicart #dagger taken in Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts by @shahnazgallery

3

7

10 months ago

Last month @nomadcircle was welcomed by @adrea.ae for an intimate journey through their cultural spaces.

We started off at The Furusiyya Gallery, where I led the private tour of the exhibition, celebrating the timeless connection between horse and man with over 170 objects across various civilisations and cultures. The tour was followed by a visit through to the Atelier and Library, where @davidandnicolas shared the creative foundations and material language that underpin @adrea.ae design philosophy.

The experience concluded with a private preview of the weekly show rehearsal which was beautiful to see!

#furusiyya #design #islamicart taken in Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts by @shahnazgallery

3

0

10 months ago

Reem Al Mubarak
Before the Grains Could Settle
150 cm x 100 cm
UAE sand and audio installation

@reem_almubarak_ deep study and work on classical horsemanship in relation to her Emirati roots and is an integral part of our exhibition Furusiyya: The Noble Connection Between Horse & Man. It was a joy to be able to have learnt from Reem’s practice during her journey over the nearly last two years on this installation. Her work captures the power of human interaction and emotions aiming to convey an experience and evoke positive, subjective involvement from the viewer.

In the artist Reem Al Mubaraks words:

This sculptural series captures my interpretation of the fleeting precision of classical horsemanship, an art passed down through centuries of tradition. Each piece holds the imprint of a single classical movement: the Spanish Walk, the Pirouette, the Piaffe, and the Canter.

The sculptures are made entirely from sand I collected from five terrains across the UAE, in colors ranging from pink and red to white, black, and yellow. Just as every classical school has its own arena sand mixed with local fibers, here the UAE’s landscapes become part of the work. The sand witnesses everything, every imprint and every movement, yet when the arena is reset, it is smoothed over as if nothing ever happened.

I draw on this knowledge to root my work in both craft and heritage. What appears delicate is in fact built with intention and control. Each imprint is pressed just as the surface sets, holding a breath of movement before it vanishes, and revealing a tension between presence and absence, form and formlessness.

By preserving these hoof imprints, I capture a breath of motion before it vanishes. What seems fragile is in fact built with intention and control, reflecting the harmony between horse and rider, strength and lightness held together in a single grain.

On display @adrea.ae
Exhibition: Furusiyya: The Noble Connection Between Horse Between Horse and Man taken in Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts by @shahnazgallery

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3

a year ago

Reem Al Mubarak
Before the Grains Could Settle
150 cm x 100 cm
UAE sand and audio installation

In the artist Reem Al Mubaraks words:

This sculptural series captures my interpretation of the fleeting precision of classical horsemanship, an art passed down through centuries of tradition. Each piece holds the imprint of a single classical movement: the Spanish Walk, the Pirouette, the Piaffe, and the Canter.

The sculptures are made entirely from sand I collected from five terrains across the UAE, in colors ranging from pink and red to white, black, and yellow. Just as every classical school has its own arena sand mixed with local fibers, here the UAE’s landscapes become part of the work. The sand witnesses everything, every imprint and every movement, yet when the arena is reset, it is smoothed over as if nothing ever happened.

I draw on this knowledge to root my work in both craft and heritage. What appears delicate is in fact built with intention and control. Each imprint is pressed just as the surface sets, holding a breath of movement before it vanishes, and revealing a tension between presence and absence, form and formlessness.

By preserving these hoof imprints, I capture a breath of motion before it vanishes. What seems fragile is in fact built with intention and control, reflecting the harmony between horse and rider, strength and lightness held together in a single grain.

On view @adrea.ae
Exhibition: Furusiyya: The Noble Connection Between Horse and Man by @shahnazgallery

3

10

a year ago

Reem Al Mubarak
Before the Grains Could Settle
150 cm x 100 cm
UAE sand and audio installation

In the artist Reem Al Mubaraks words:

This sculptural series captures my interpretation of the fleeting precision of classical horsemanship, an art passed down through centuries of tradition. Each piece holds the imprint of a single classical movement: the Spanish Walk, the Pirouette, the Piaffe, and the Canter.

The sculptures are made entirely from sand I collected from five terrains across the UAE, in colors ranging from pink and red to white, black, and yellow. Just as every classical school has its own arena sand mixed with local fibers, here the UAE’s landscapes become part of the work. The sand witnesses everything, every imprint and every movement, yet when the arena is reset, it is smoothed over as if nothing ever happened.

I draw on this knowledge to root my work in both craft and heritage. What appears delicate is in fact built with intention and control. Each imprint is pressed just as the surface sets, holding a breath of movement before it vanishes, and revealing a tension between presence and absence, form and formlessness.

By preserving these hoof imprints, I capture a breath of motion before it vanishes. What seems fragile is in fact built with intention and control, reflecting the harmony between horse and rider, strength and lightness held together in a single grain.

On display @adrea.ae
As part of the exhibition; Furusiyya: The Noble Connection Between Horse and Man taken in Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts by @shahnazgallery

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4

a year ago

Success after the saddle and horse armour install! With @nacharodriguezr & @teoolara two of the brilliant riders @adrea.ae by @shahnazgallery

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10

a year ago

17th-18th century Mughal horse Armour @adrea.ae
#furusiyya #islamicart by @shahnazgallery

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1

a year ago

There are so many special memories from the install of the exhibition @adrea.ae . @reem_almubarak_ and I worked tirelessly on design and placement, but what made it truly special was the teamwork that brought the Furusiyya Gallery to life. One of my favourite moments was installing the horse armour.
We struggled to place the chamfron, bridle & horse bits correctly and it was clear we needed help.
Reem had the idea to head to the arena and ask for help from riders @nacharodriguezr & @teoolara . They figured it out immediately. Watching them, really brought it home that we were not just mounting an object, we were stepping into a lineage.
The same motions have travelled across four centuries from Mughal cavalry traditions to our gallery floor. Seeing them work on the install made the past very present and acted as a reminder that heritage lives not only in steel and leather but through people that keep the skills and traditions alive through dedication and daily practice. Like the riders of old, these incredible riders spend hours perfecting their craft and strengthening their connection. If you’re in Abu Dhabi don’t miss the chance to visit @adrea.ae and see for yourselves. taken in Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts by @shahnazgallery

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6

a year ago