If there is one thing that can build bridges between civilizations, religions and people, it is an appreciation of art.
With this premise in mind, the documentary Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World sheds light on the history, context and preservation of artistic traditions within the Islamic world.
Directed by multiple Emmy winner Robert H. Gardner and narrated by Susan Sarandon, Islamic Art spans the globe analyzing the architectural marvels of the Taj Mahal in India, the palaces of Turkey and the simple yet perfectly symmetrical mosques in the villages of Mali. It explores the skill behind the most intricate calligraphy and explains the symmetry, design and planning behind the world’s most beautiful mosques.
“The message of this film is that human interaction across diverse lines can produce beauty,” said Kronemer. “I think in this time and place, we have may lost sight of that, thinking that diversity only produces conflict, division and violence.
“But history shows us, time and time again, that this interaction can also produce beauty.”