he Islamic world is comprised of a highly diverse, global population, which is united by certain core beliefs related to the religion of Islam. But local traditions – artistic, social, economic, environmental, among others – often distinguish individual lifestyles and values such that many Muslims may have little in common with other Muslims. It is often said, therefore, that the Islamic world embraces both unity and diversity.At Shangri La, it is possible to explore the unity and diversity of Islamic cultures, even within in a single space, an experience which would be highly unusual in the Islamic world itself. In the Foyer, for example, an ornate Moroccan ceiling, over 600 Turkish tiles, and 84 Spanish-style windows that colorfully filter sunlight are juxtaposed with metal urns, wood chests, and opulent textiles representing artistic tradition of India, Egypt, Central Asia, Iran, and Syria. The combination of so many cultures and media within a single room is typical of the way the art collection is displayed at Shangri La. In retrospect, Duke’s blending of diverse Islamic traditions is just as provocative as her juxtaposition of Hawaiian and Islamic elements at the estate. As a reporter tellingly described Shangri La in 1938: “On all the face of the globe there is no other place like it nor is there likely to be.”
The Birth of Islam, the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Introduction to Islamic art from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Diversity and Unity in Islam and Islamic art, from the Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia Examples of diverse Islamic cultures as seen in the Shangri La collection
Islamic architecture resources from ArchNet