Yunus Emre InstituteIn a vibrant celebration of cross-cultural harmony, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London, in partnership with the Global Centre of Islamic Art, recently hosted an inspiring Watch Party to mark Islamic Art Week 2025. This special gathering brought together a diverse community of artists, students, and enthusiasts at the Institute to explore the global heritage of Islamic art through a meaningful lens of shared learning and creative exchange.
The centerpiece of the event, held on Monday, 17th November at 1:30 PM, was an exclusive session led by the world-renowned master Ustath Haji Noor Deen (Mi Guang Jiang). Celebrated for his revolutionary fusion of Chinese and Arabic artistic traditions, the master shared his deep expertise in a presentation titled “Calligraphy of the Mus’haf (Qur’an) in the Chinese Style.” Attendees were guided through the historical development and spiritual significance of this unique visual language, discovering how decades of scholarship and meticulous practice have allowed Noor Deen to bridge two distinct aesthetic worlds.
The session functioned as both an academic inquiry and a spiritual journey, as the master detailed his current research into Qur’anic manuscripts and the theoretical foundations of Arabic calligraphy. By focusing on the “how” of this hybrid art form, the event illuminated the meticulous discipline required to express sacred texts through a Chinese lens. The afternoon concluded with a period of collective reflection and discussion, reinforcing the vital role of art as a bridge between civilizations. Through this collaborative Watch Party, the Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London successfully showcased how diverse artistic traditions can unite to express the enduring beauty and universal reach of the Qur’an.
