By: Hendra Rijal
Photo: Azman Mohd
SERDANG, Nov 12 - The Faculty of Design and Architecture (FRSB), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) organised the "The Tatars Muslim in the Republic of Poland" exhibition which showcase Islamic culture in Poland that has existed since the 14th century.
The exhibition, officiated by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Malaysia, Krzystof Debnick, was a collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Malaysia. It focused on the historical importance of the Islamic community in Poland.
Also present was the Ambassador of Jordan to Malaysia, Thamer Adwan.
UPM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datin Paduka Dato' Dr. Aini Ideris expressed hope that UPM and the embassy will continue to work together in future projects which involve activities such as architecture, urban design, planning and sustainable design and landscape architecture.
"This will not only benefit the students and university staff, but it is also a direct way to share knowledge with the community on creativity and the Polish’s innovative design and architecture," she said.
The coordinator of Serdang Gallery, LAr. Dr. Shamsul Abu Bakar, said the exhibition was the initiative of a Senior Lecturer from the Architecture Department, FRSB UPM, Dr Marek Kozlowski and Serdang Gallery which saw the uniqueness of the Polish Tartar Muslim population that has long resided in Eastern Europe.
"The exhibition is a continuance of a previous cooperation, a Polish exhibition: Contemporary Architecture and Urbanism Exhibition, which involved the Polish Embassy held on May 26, 2015.
"The purpose of the exhibition is to expose the campus community to the survival and uniqueness of the Tartar Muslim community in Poland, in particular, the challenges they have faced throughout the 500 years living in Europe," he said.
He said that Serdang Gallery and the Polish Embassy were planning a mobile exhibition to highlight the uniqueness of Malaysian's architecture, which would be launched in Malaysia before being exhibited in Poland. It would be headed by Dr. Marek Kozlowski.
The "The Tatar Muslim in the Republic of Poland" exhibition presents the history and origin of the Tatars from the early settlement through various images and important archival documents of the Tatar Muslims who serve as an integral community in the Republic of Poland.
The exhibition runs from 12 November to 12 December 2018. - UPM
