‘Wonders of Creation’
The McMullen Museum of Art at Boston College explores sources of wonder in the upcoming exhibition Wonders of Creation: Art, Science, and Innovation in the Islamic World. Organized in collaboration with the San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA), the exhibition examines intersections of science and craft in Islamic material culture and contemporary art through the framework of a thirteenth-century text by Zakariyya ibn Muhammad al-Qazwini (1202–83) describing the wonders of the universe.
Wonders of Creation will be on view—in its exclusive East Coast display—from February 9 through June 1, 2025 in the McMullen Museum’s Daley Family and Monan Galleries, the second and final venue for the exhibition, which debuted this fall at the SDMA.
Incense burner in the shape of a feline. East Iranian world, 12th–13th century. Bronze; cast in openwork, inlaid with turquoise-glazed faience and glass eye. The al-Sabah Collection, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait.
“The McMullen is pleased to present, in collaboration with the San Diego Museum of Art, this landmark interdisciplinary exhibition that explores the complex, entwined relationship between art and science in the medieval Islamic world and how that relationship has continued to enhance global innovation and culture to the present day,” said Inaugural Robert L. and Judith T. Winston Director of the McMullen Museum Nancy Netzer, a professor of art history at Boston College.
“We hope that Wonders of Creation will spark conversations and new research leading to future innovations among a receptive audience in New England, where the arts and sciences have flourished for centuries, especially in our colleges and universities," Netzer said.
The trailblazing exhibition, organized by Ladan Akbarnia, curator of South Asian and Islamic art at SDMA, showcases more than 170 extraordinary works of art and objects from the ninth century to the present—including some on display for the first time in the United States. Using wonder as a vehicle, it illuminates the global impact of science and artistic production from the Islamic world and its diverse geographies and multifaceted visual cultures. Treasures—including illustrated manuscripts and paintings, maps, scientific instruments, magic bowls, luster dishes, architectural elements, and contemporary art—evoke wonder through a visual journey.
Abu’l Hasan Sufi (illustrator). 'Constellation of the Dragon (al-tinnin)', manuscript of the 'Mirat al-nujum (Mirror of astronomy).' India, Surat, 1740. Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; leather binding. The San Diego Museum of Art, Edwin Binney 3rd Collection.
Integrating medieval and early modern art from the Islamic world with contemporary works, Wonders of Creation allows visitors to gain a deeper appreciation of ingenuity and craftsmanship spanning twelve centuries.
The exhibition begins with an examination of Qazwini’s text—The Wonders of Creation and the Rarities of Existence—and its impact. Sections on the celestial realm, terrestrial sphere, and humankind examine topics such as astronomy, astrology, natural history, mineralogy, alchemy, medicine, geometry, and architecture through objects from Spain, North Africa, the Middle East to Central, South, and Southeast Asia as well modern diasporic regions.
Turban ornament. India, probably Deccan, late 17th century. Gold; enameled and set with emeralds and diamonds. The al-Sabah Collection, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait.
“Wonders of Creation uses the framework of an influential thirteenth-century Islamic text to explore intersections of Islam, art, and science over several centuries across a diverse spectrum of works and cultural traditions,” said Akbarnia. “In the wake of the Mongol invasions, Qazwini’s The Wonders of Creation and the Rarities of Existence offered a portable description of the universe designed to inform as well as to entertain its readers, encouraging them to contemplate the marvels of divine creation.
“Today, through this important exhibition, it reminds us of our inherent curiosity as human beings, offering a fresh perspective to interpreting art and material culture through Qazwini’s lens of wonder and showcasing the Islamic world through historic works, contemporary art, living traditions and preservation efforts, and a substantial presence from collections in Kuwait and Malaysia. I am thrilled for Wonders of Creation to open at the McMullen Museum of Art to audiences at a university and city long known for embracing the pursuit of knowledge,” she added.
Written in Arabic and Persian, Qazwini’s revolutionary cosmography meticulously details the universe, blending scientific knowledge with popular anecdotes, portraying all phenomena as signs of divine creation. His richly illustrated work remains influential today, offering insights into Islamic culture and inspiring curiosity about natural phenomena. The author, an Islamic judge and professor, emphasized wonder as a path to knowledge, urging readers to contemplate natural marvels to deepen their understanding of God and the cosmos. Qazwini’s encyclopedic text serves as the framework accompanying exhibition visitors through the orbits of the cosmos from the heavens to the earth.
“Wonders of Creation provides an incredible opportunity to bring renowned artworks from premier collections around the world to Boston College, and to think about how art and science have shaped the world in which we live,” said Emine Fetvacı, Norma Jean Calderwood University Professor of Islamic and Asian Art at Boston College. “I am delighted that the McMullen Museum will host this innovative exhibition that showcases important artworks, scientific instruments, and treatises from the Islamic world.
“Qazwini’s book offers a wonderful lens through which to explore the intersections of art and science in the past as well as today,” she added. “The overlap of art and science are examined through all the materials in the exhibition, whether luster painted bowls, paintings illustrating amusing stories, or astrolabes to chart the skies. It is fascinating to see the continuing exploration of these themes via artworks and examples of material culture through the centuries, and even by contemporary artists.”
Hayv Kahraman (Kurdish Iraqi and Swedish, b. 1981), 'Decagram No. 2,' 2013. Oil on panels. Private collection, New York, NY.
Wonders of Creation is complemented by a full-color catalogue with contributions from leading international scholars.
The exhibition presents works from twenty lenders, chief among them the al-Sabah Collection, Dar Al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait and the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia—whose works are on loan to the US for the first time; Cambridge University Library; Harvard Art Museums; the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and the San Diego Museum of Art.
Featured are recent and newly commissioned pieces by artists Monir Farmanfarmaian, Pouran Jinchi, Hayv Kahraman, Pantea Karimi, Issam Kourbaj, and Timo Nasseri. Wonders of Creation is designed to invite visitors to explore the marvels of the heavens and the earth and admire the crafts and customs of humanity.
“We are thrilled to present this groundbreaking exhibition, with support from the Getty through its PST Art: Art & Science Collide initiative,” said Roxana Velásquez, SDMA Maruja Baldwin Executive Director and CEO. “Wonders of Creation celebrates the rich cultural heritage and enduring legacy of Islamic civilization, inviting audiences of all backgrounds to discover and appreciate its profound and diverse contributions.”
'Huqqa' base. Mughal India, ca. 1740–80. Nephrite jade; carved and inlaid with floral scroll composed of rubies, emeralds, and diamonds set in gold. Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, 2020.
Organized by the San Diego Museum of Art in collaboration with the McMullen Museum of Art, this exhibition is made possible with support from Getty through its PST ART: Art & Science Collide initiative and the National Endowment for the Humanities. It is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Wonders of Creation is among more than 70 exhibitions and programs presented as part of PST ART: Art & Science Collide, a landmark regional event that explores the intersections of art and science, both past and present. PST ART is presented by Getty.
Double frontispiece, bifolio from a manuscript of 'The Wonders of Creation and the Rarities of Existence.' Iran, Shiraz, 823 AH (1421). Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fletcher Fund, 1934.
The presentation at the McMullen has been supported by Boston College, the Patrons of the McMullen Museum, Leslie and Peter Ciampi, Robert ’63 and Ann Marie Reardon P’91, the Hispanic Art Initiative of the McMullen Museum, and the Norma Jean Calderwood University Professorship in Islamic and Asian Art at Boston College.
In-person and virtual public programming is planned for the general public and museum Members. For more information, and to sign up for those events that require advance registration, please visit the McMullen Museum Events Calendar. More events will be added leading up to this exhibition; visit the McMullen website and subscribe to the McMullen mailing list for updates.