The Garden of Eden Collage

Abbey (b. 1973, Essex, England) has qualified and worked as both a Computer Scientist and Political Scientist. Abbey is a British Born Muslim from Gants Hill, Essex. He grew up in a very White English and Jewish part of London, which has changed ethnically and religiously over the last two decades. Growing up Abbey had Protestant & Catholic Ethics instilled into him, values that were complimentary to his Muslim faith. Abbey has studied Islamic Art & Architecture under Prof Peter Morgan at Oxford University and has spent time learning calligraphy in the Middle East, as well as being a trained photographer. Abbey is influenced by the Cubism of Picasso as part of the Art Deco movement. Moreover adopting the concepts of surrealism in highlighting the unconscious. Stain glass, Calligraphy and mosaic work is of particular interest. His work is inspired by religious parables and comparative narratives within holy texts, as well as stressing the commonalties between the Semitic languages and other faiths. His artistic work explores the often irenic relationship for Muslims in the West today, highlighting the contradictions between civilizational and colonial history, ethnicity, Arab nationalism (Arabism), theology and ethics of this Abrahamic religion, in seeking moderation in all things. The relationship is an often irenic one and my art and calligraphy seeks to highlight the commonalities between the Semitic faiths rather than pointing out the differences. Abbey believes Education and the Enlightenment is a key that can unlock "˜citizens' from their self-imposed bigotries, leading to a more tolerant and liberal secular democracy. Recent collaborative exhibitions included, "˜Faith in the City' at the Red Gallery, Hoxton (London 2012), in which artists from different faith backgrounds united in a celebration of cultural diversity in the capital. The exhibition was part of the "˜Urban Dialogues' event and was curated by the Three Faiths Forum and its sponsors. Future collaborative exhibitions are planned at the Brick Lane Gallery (London), as well as plans to exhibit in Europe, American and the Middle East during 2012.