CMES Research Seminar: In the “Khidma” Service of Ahl Al-Bayt - Practicing Piety Through Art Among Shia in Kuwait and the UK

Abstract:

Art and piety have been studied immensely in many religions. The focus on Islam and art has been mainly restricted to geometrical shapes, architecture and calligraphy. This presentation will expand of what is Islamic art and analysis its role among pious Shi’i people. More specifically, how religious service (khidma) is transferrable to art and why art matters in religion. To answer this question, I look at several artists based in Kuwait and the United Kingdom ethnographically and follow their art processes using a video camera. The results showed the significance of art in materialising incorporeal things like dreams, aspirations, hopes, emotions and fears. Moreover, art provided an important space for women to practice their agency and piety with their own terms. To understand further this relationship between art and Shi’i people, more research needs to be done cross culturally and be analysed for patterns and how meaning making processes occur.

Biographical note

Nada Al-Hudaid researches Shia religious art in the Middle East and the UK. She looks at how art is employed in the service (khidmah) of Ahl Al-Bayt (family members of Prophet Mohammed). Her PhD thesis at the University of Manchester explored the materiality of Shia art among pious women in Kuwait and what role art plays in the lives of these women. More specifically, she focused on female artists who were able to establish their own religious settings and practise piety through art. In her current post-doctoral research, she is focusing on the materiality of dreams and miracles in contemporary Shia art. Her research interests include the anthropology of art, visual culture, and religion.  In 2019, Nada obtained her PhD at the University of Manchester then worked as research fellow at the University of Birmingham. Currently, she is working as part of the Alterumma project, which is led by Prof. Oliver Scharbrodt at Lund University in Sweden, and focusing on the materiality of art in relation to dreams and miracles among Shia artists. In addition to her academic interests, she is a filmmaker with a keen passion for visual productions and social media management.

Hybrid Seminar

The talk is held at CMES, Finngatan 16 in Lund. If you are not able to attend in-person, there is an option to attend via Zoom. Please register here for Zoom attendance: https://lu-se.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5IldeCvpzIsH9xXi9-r5XmAL3pahKUADmMj

This event is part of the spring 2023 CMES seminar series. For more information see the full program: