"American Quran" - Sandow Birk

For my final project, I was thinking along the lines of a contemporary take on islamic art and Quranic studies. Then recently I found this artist, Sandow Birk, who has been working on an "American Quran" for the past 5 years. Following the traditions of ancient Arabic and Islamic manuscripts, he's been hand writing the entire English-translated Quran following traditional guidelines like colors of inks, for example. He uses American style in his calligraphy, like from urban graffiti. Once each chapter is transcribed, he then illuminates the text and its message with scenes from contemporary American life. He investigates how the message relates to peoples lives in the United States today. He adapts techniques and styles of Arabic and Persian painting and albums.

His project could be seen as controversial. At a time when the United States is involved in two wars against Islamic nations, ironically Islam has become the fastest growing religeon in the country. So Sandow Birk explores the religion as it would mean to an individual American in the 21st Century, how it's messages relate to them in this life and time. I read in an article that the artist is worried that muslims would be offended, or misunderstand his intentions and take the project in the wrong way. He spoke to religious experts who said that might actually happen at a time like this.

I think I might have 2 opinions towards this project. As a muslim it's a little strange for me to see a project like this. It's weird to see such modern and western images as a background to scripts from the Quran. Also, traditionally figures of people of animals are not used Islam, so that part is strange to see too.
As an art/design student however, I found this project a very interesting take, given the political issues going on in this time. His portrayals are not negative, they are just relationships drawn between certain scripts of the Quran and an American's (or maybe any westerner's) daily modern life. Actually, if it is seen from this point of view, the message is a positive one; the portrayal of Islam by an American who has thoroughly studied the religion, to other Americans. It is always easier to understand something if it is explained to you in a style or manner or context that you can most relate to. This might actually help break the developing stereotype of the religion. His works cleverly blends the past with the present, and the East with the West, making the pieces unifying in a way. Also, a Muslim's life is very modernized now, and Muslims believe that their religion is timeless, that it can be applied in any time or place, so the project could also represent that.. All in all I can say that personally its hard not to be critical towards certain aspects of the project and the pieces, but generally i think Sandow Birk’s is only trying to consider the Quran as it was intended; a universal message to humankind.