Alternative Narratives: Islamic Mythology, Reimagined

About

While Islam does not adopt mythology into its core belief system as widely and commonly as Christianity and Judaism, Islamic myths have been merged with local folklore and legends of tribal Arabia for centuries. ‘Alternative Narratives: Islamic Mythology, Reimagined’, is a series of digital images re-interpreting Islamic myths found in religious texts, medieval manuscripts and folk stories told through visual and conceptual experimentation. 

The exhibition aims to question the concept of mythology within Islam, examining the difference between central beliefs and myths, while simultaneously presenting and discussing these beliefs, such as the belief of God without seeing him. 

‘Alternative Narratives: Islamic Mythology, Reimagined’, explores an imagined physical manifestation, whilst considering the feelings the myths evoke in minimalistic, border-crossing renditions. Within his artwork, Samman incorporates digital art with old traditional tales relying heavily on the power and aesthetics of Arabic, the language in which most of the myths were originally written and told, capturing their true essence.