Within the MWNF programme on the occasion of Ramadan 2025
In cooperation with AVICOM
Under the patronage of UNAOC:

The new Museum With No Frontiers online exhibition The Table is set. Food Traditions and Legacies in the Islamic World will go live on Friday 14 March 2025 at 00:00 CET:

https://exhibitions.museumwnf.org/the_table_is_set/en/

MWNF_TableIsSet_Announcement_010325

Collection Start Page

Chester Beatty Library Dublin: Coffie House

Press Text:

This exhibition by Museum With No Frontiers explores the rich food and culinary traditions of the Islamic world, offering a deeper understanding of Islamic culture and fostering cross-cultural dialogue. What sets this exhibition apart is its uniquely international approach, with a curatorial team drawn from diverse cultural, professional, and academic backgrounds. Combined with remarkable collections from various museum partners, it embodies MWNF’s commitment to cultural diversity.

The key advantage of a digital online exhibition is its unparalleled accessibility, allowing people to engage with it regardless of location or financial means. This global reach democratises knowledge and encourages inclusivity, overcoming the geographic and financial limitations of physical exhibitions. Digital exhibitions avoid the expenses of transporting, insuring, and conserving fragile artefacts like manuscripts and photographs, which can remain accessible indefinitely in digital form. Viewers can enlarge images to explore details, enhancing the educational experience. The involvement of an international team fosters a diverse and inclusive narrative, moving beyond narrow perspectives, and the digital format can include objects from multiple institutions, offering depth that physical exhibitions often struggle to achieve.

The virtual exhibition also makes possible the inclusion of monuments, offering an immersive exploration of architectural and cultural landmarks that cannot be physically transported. MWNF maintains an extensive database of cultural heritage objects, sites, and monuments, providing exhibition visitors with comprehensive and engaging experiences that enhance their understanding of historical and artistic contexts.

Food, a basic human necessity, is a force that can unite or divide, foster peace, or spark conflict. It is not merely a means of survival, but a reflection of cultural identity, personal preferences, and the dynamics of social, political, and economic power. The exhibition’s curatorial perspective is structured around six main themes, each shedding light on the pivotal roles food has played in shaping the Islamic world.

Theme I, Life at the Court, focuses on ways in which food was central to Islamic courts, which served as more than just physical spaces. They were hubs of power, social life, and cultural development. Elaborate meals, refined table etiquette, and newly-created recipes symbolised status and prestige, contributing to the development of culinary arts and cultural identity.

Theme II, Social Life, examines food as a universal medium for connection, and for sharing beliefs, values, and social hierarchies. Across the Islamic world, communal meals fostered intimacy, belonging, and unity.

Theme III, Religion, explores the intricate relationship between food and faith in Islamic culture. Religious beliefs shaped and are still shaping food practices, from dietary laws to traditions observed during festivals such as Ramadan and the Eids. More than just nourishment, food in Islamic culture represents humility, hospitality, and discipline, creating a profound connection between the individual and the divine.

Theme IV, Environment, highlights how Islamic civilisation developed sustainable agricultural practices that balanced environmental stewardship with human needs. From innovative farming techniques and water management to soil care, these practices ensured resource sustainability while shaping culinary traditions. This theme also explores the ways in which cultural exchanges influenced ingredients, cooking techniques, and serving practices.

Theme V, Gender Roles, focuses on the collaborative contributions of men and women in food production, preparation, and presentation. Together, their efforts shaped the culinary and social legacy of the Islamic world, evidence of the dynamic balance of responsibilities in sustaining food traditions and cultural values.

Theme VI, Coexistence, explores how food acted as a unifying force in the multicultural Islamic world. Despite communities’ religious and social differences, shared meals fostered connections and enriched food traditions. Culinary interactions led to vibrant food-related industries and a rich material culture, with fusion cuisines reflecting both unity and diversity. Food became a powerful symbol of coexistence, transcending boundaries and facilitating cultural exchange.

This exhibition is more than a showcase of culinary traditions; it is an exploration of how food shapes identity, fosters resilience, and transcends time and geography. By connecting the diverse legacy of the Islamic world to contemporary practices, it reveals food as a bridge between past and present, tradition and innovation. Through its themes, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on food’s profound ability to nurture not just the body, but also the bonds that unite communities and cultures. It shows that the simple act of sharing a meal carries universal meaning—offering hope, understanding, and the potential for greater harmony in a complex, interconnected world.