Exhibition to reflect city's Muslim community

A new exhibition in Birmingham hopes to reflect the diversity of the city's mosques, as well as its vibrant Muslim community.

What Did You Want To See?, by Birmingham artist Mahtab Hussain, will be at Ikon Gallery from 20 March to 1 June.

It features Hussain's documentation of 160 mosques, as well as portraits of residents, and a communal space.

"Through my work, I strive to reflect the richness and resilience of Muslim communities, celebrating their individuality while challenging stereotypes," he said.

"Each portrait and installation is a story, an invitation to connect, and a reminder of the beauty in our shared humanity."

The pictures of the mosques were taken in the summers of 2023 and 2024 and will be displayed in a 16 x 10 grid.

"The collection reveals the diversity of mosque architecture, from the iconic domes and minarets of Birmingham's Central Mosque to the Arts & Crafts designs of terraced houses and yellow brick churches," said Ikon Gallery.

The portraits, of people from Birmingham's Muslim community, are in black and white - aiming to showcase the community's diversity, from one woman dressed in traditional clothing to a man in car mechanic's attire.

The installations will form a communal space in the gallery, in Brindleyplace.

There will also be a carpeted room featuring a video of five prayer sequences, which visitors can join in with or observe.

A further installation, called An Act of Civil Declaration is a series of statements that confront the harmful stereotypes that the Muslim community has faced.

Two additional videos explore the Muslim experience in Britain, celebrating community activities, sports and social gatherings. They also reflect on Hussain's experience growing up in Birmingham.

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