Islam exhibited: In pursuit of representation in pluralistic societies

Abstract

European museums are increasingly responding to the continent’s growing multicultural and multireligious population. Among the key challenges is the representation of Muslims, not only in public discourse but also in heritage institutions. This article examines how Islamic art is conventionally displayed in major European art museums through ethnographic fieldwork conducted primarily in the Netherlands between 2018 and 2024. Drawing on participant observation, exhibition analysis, and interviews with museum professionals and community members, this exploratory study argues that exhibitions often emphasise a glorified Islamic past while framing the tradition as static or incapable of progression. Even curatorial efforts aimed at ‘democratisation’ can inadvertently reinforce negative stereotypes and binary distinctions between a refined and an unrefined Islam. While this study’s findings are based on specific contexts and cannot be generalised to all Muslim experiences in Europe, they illuminate broader dynamics of representation, inclusion, and the reproduction of ‘otherness’ in contemporary museum practices.

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