Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan has made its first artistic contribution to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS), with a contemporary sculpture by renowned artist Amin Gulgee now becoming part of the institution’s collection.
The sculpture, drawn from Gulgee’s acclaimed Zero Gravity II series, is a striking fusion of modern form and deep Islamic heritage. It features deconstructed Naskh calligraphy arranged around the fifth verse of Surah Al-Alaq — the verse associated with the command “Iqra” (Read).
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is recognized worldwide as a leading institution for the multi-disciplinary study of Islamic culture, civilization, and contemporary Muslim societies. Its collections and exhibitions attract scholars, diplomats and visitors from across the Muslim world.
According to Pakistan’s High Commission in London, the artwork’s inclusion in OCIS does more than adorn the institution; it symbolically strengthens the cultural connection between Pakistan’s artistic identity and one of the world’s most respected centers of Islamic scholarship.
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Dr. Mohammad Faisal, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, described the gift as a source of immense national pride. He emphasized that it represents not just a one-time donation, but the beginning of a long-term relationship between Pakistan and the Oxford center.
“To have Pakistan’s artistic voice now resonate within these walls is a matter of immense national pride. This gift is not a one-time event, but the beginning of a lasting relationship between Pakistan and the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies,” he said.
OCIS Director, Dr. Farhan Nizami, welcomed the contribution and said that the sculpture will inspire deeper intellectual and cultural engagement.
Amin Gulgee, hailing from Karachi, is Pakistan’s most-cherished contemporary artists; whose art defies any traditional categorization. He blends spirituality and geometry into metal sculptors. His father was also an artist, whose abstract paintings were sold worldwide.
Established in December 2008, The Diplomatic Insight is Pakistan’s premier diplomacy and foreign affairs magazine, available in both digital and print formats.
