03 March 2014 – 15 May 2014
The Boundless Plains: the Australian Muslim Connection is an exhibition partnership between the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) and the Islamic Museum of Australia (IMA). It takes the audience on a photographic adventure through the Australian landscape to visit Muslim experiences from the past and the present. In the spirit of the “Muslim Connection”, the IAMM brings with it the element of the Muslim Malay World and its history with Australia through language, pioneer explorations and early arts exchanges.
In general, the exhibition will need to include aspects of the Muslim Malay World of which is lacking in the publication. These aspects will take on three main forms: 1. Language shared by both cultures; 2. early maps and migration charts of the Malays in contact with Australia; 3. arts and crafts exchanges through trade, collaborations and intermarriages. Some examples of these are documented loanwords; maps of the territories of the Sultanate of Goa which included Northern Australia; and the perahu.
The exhibition storyline is to take shape by way of a timeline. The timeline is divided into four parts as according to the publication: 18th century, 19th century, 20th century and 21st century. The exhibition will also make use of an audio video documentary as well as a virtual tour of the IMA. There is also the possibility to showcase the exhibition online thus fulfilling the main requirement of the grant.
