PARIS, March 28, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – Under the title "From Cordoba to Samarkand," an exhibition on Islamic art was inaugurated Monday, March 27, in the Louvre Museum by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani and French President Jacques Chirac.

"The exhibition is a message of culture and art from Qatar and is aimed at displaying the artistic and civilized face of Islam," Sheikh Hassan Bin Mohamed Al-Thani, the deputy head of the Museums and Antiquities Authority in Qatar, told IslamOnline.net.

The exhibition, which opens to the public on March 30 and runs through May 26, spans the history of art in the Muslim world from Cordoba in the West and to Samarkand in the East.

"The title signifies the spread of Islam from the East to the West," Sheikh Hassan said.

He said the fair showcases Islamic artifacts from three continents and highlights the different breathtaking forms of Islamic art including calligraphy and sculpture over a span of 13 centuries.

"We build bridges between civilizations as we often hear nowadays too much talk about clash of civilizations," he said.

Also on display are some 42 rare Islamic masterpieces from the Islamic Art Museum in Qatar and hundreds of artifacts showing the richness and diversity of Islamic heritage, including metalwork, rugs, precious stones and ivory.

Key among the historical antiquities an Ottoman decree sealed by Sultan Soliman Al-Qanouni and dates back to the 16th century.

An Iraqi rug inscribed with kufi calligraphy and an Indian silk piece of cloth dating back to the eight and ninth centuries are also expected to mesmerize the audience.

The museum's slogan is a bronze-made gazelle sculptured in Al-Andalus in mid 10th century.

The Emir of Qatar accompanied by Chirac in a fair tour.

Sabiha Al-Khomiri, the director of the Islamic Art Museum in Qatar, said that the Islamic art has been stereotyped in the West.

"It is an ample opportunity to introduce the West our art in an interesting and eye-catching way," she told IOL.

Francis Richard, the director of the Louvre's Islamic Art department, said that the fair is part of Islamic-art events hosted by the Louvre and will be crowned with the inauguration of a new Islamic art wing in 2009.

The 4,000-square-meter wing in the world's largest museum will showcase up to 10,000 pieces, one of the greatest concentrations of Islamic art in existence.

Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Walid bin Talal has donated 17 million euros to construct the much-awaited section.

The French government will also contribute 26 million euros ($41.24 million) and the oil giant Total will add four million euros ($6.35 million) to complete the construction.

It is designed by architects Mario Bellinin from Italy and Rudi Ricciotti from France.