Imam Hussain Sculpture Unveiled by Bahraini Artist
- Bahrain's first sculpture depicting Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mohammed, was unveiled last night at the Hussaini Drawing Society for Islamic Arts, Manama.
The sculpture was created by Bahraini sculptor Talal Gazwan and is just of the head. It is based on a photograph of a sculpture believed to have been made by a Christian preacher when Imam Hussain's head was paraded around the world, after he and his family were slaughtered at the hands of Umayyad dynasty ruler Yazid's army, in the Battle of Karbala, Iraq.
The original sculpture is widely believed to be hidden in a VIP room in the Louvre Museum in Paris, where it was first found in 1200 AD, long before the ancient building became a museum.
Society president Abdulnabi Al Hamer said that creating a full body sculpture of a religious figure would be against Islam, but not a partial sculpture, such as the head.
"Even this will shadow black-shaded lighting on the side, to ensure that people don't equate the sculpture with the actual head," he said.
"The mystery of the original sculpture is still unsolved, considering that many believe that it is hidden in one of the VIP rooms at the Louvre, but until today this is not confirmed.
Original
"The original sculpture was made by a Christian priest, when the army took the head around the world as a symbol of their victory.
"He made the sculpture after giving those in charge money to leave it with him for one night."
Mr Al Hamer said that the sculpture was borrowed by the Iraqi government under the rule of Abdulkarim Qassim in the 1940s.
It borrowed it for two days during Ashoora, which marks the death of Imam Hussain, to be used in processions.
"It was covered on the side by a cloth so people would not think it the actual head of Imam Hussain," said Mr Al Hamer. He said that if people were unable to see the original sculpture, the society would help them see something similar to it and from here came the idea of the new sculpture.
"Mr Gazwan is one of the most skilled in sculpturing and from what I have seen, his work is amazing," said Mr Al Hamer. "We are planning to exhibit the sculpture until the early hours of next Tuesday morning, which marks the actual death of Imam Hussain."
Gulf Daily News
The original sculpture is widely believed to be hidden in a VIP room in the Louvre Museum in Paris, where it was first found in 1200 AD, long before the ancient building became a museum.
Society president Abdulnabi Al Hamer said that creating a full body sculpture of a religious figure would be against Islam, but not a partial sculpture, such as the head.
"Even this will shadow black-shaded lighting on the side, to ensure that people don't equate the sculpture with the actual head," he said.
"The mystery of the original sculpture is still unsolved, considering that many believe that it is hidden in one of the VIP rooms at the Louvre, but until today this is not confirmed.
Original
"The original sculpture was made by a Christian priest, when the army took the head around the world as a symbol of their victory.
"He made the sculpture after giving those in charge money to leave it with him for one night."
Mr Al Hamer said that the sculpture was borrowed by the Iraqi government under the rule of Abdulkarim Qassim in the 1940s.
It borrowed it for two days during Ashoora, which marks the death of Imam Hussain, to be used in processions.
"It was covered on the side by a cloth so people would not think it the actual head of Imam Hussain," said Mr Al Hamer. He said that if people were unable to see the original sculpture, the society would help them see something similar to it and from here came the idea of the new sculpture.
"Mr Gazwan is one of the most skilled in sculpturing and from what I have seen, his work is amazing," said Mr Al Hamer. "We are planning to exhibit the sculpture until the early hours of next Tuesday morning, which marks the actual death of Imam Hussain."
Gulf Daily News
