2007年VOA标准英语-Unusual Islamic Art Exhibition Opens in Austral

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
21 June 2007

The biggest exhibition of Islamic art seen in Australia has opened in Sydney.  It features 350 rare works from the renowned¹ Khalili Collection. "The Arts Of Islam" features Korans and prayer rugs as well as secular² objects, spanning millennia³ and a range of countries.  From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.

Nasser David Khalili

Nasser David Khalili owns one of the world's largest private collections of Islamic art.  Over the years the Iranian-born property developer has amassed⁴ more than 20,000 works. Some of the finest and rarest have gone on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney.

The 350 pieces include colorful ceramics⁵, lustre-painted glass and finely woven textiles from the 7th century to the early 20th century.

The display is about showcasing the imagination and influence that Muslim artists have had through the ages.

Islamic art exhibit at the Art Gallery of New South Walesin Sydney 21 June 2007

Organizers say in the catalogue that "the very word Islam casts both light and shadow over the contemporary world."

They insist there has never been a greater need for Islam's true artistic⁶ power and heritage to be shown.

Khalili says the art of Islam has helped shape Western culture.

"You see the influence (of) Islamic art in every walk of life," Khalili said. "In actual fact, if you open any design book of any other culture in the West, you cannot escape not  seeing something Islamic, and this is something that the world is not aware of, and this exhibition is a step toward that direction to tell the world that there is tremendous amount of influence of Islamic culture into the culture of the West."

Professor Khalili is a devout⁷ Jew and wants his immense collection to promote greater understanding between various cultures and faiths.

Islamic art exhibit at the Art Gallery of New South Walesin Sydney, 21 Jun 2007

He believes that many Westerners and Muslims have no appreciation⁸ of the powerful cultural heritage of Islam.

 He wants the arts to show that different religious groups, for example Muslims and Jews, have far more that unites them than sets them apart from each other.

The exhibition takes place at a time when Australia's Muslim population feels increasingly alienated⁹ and marginalized from mainstream¹⁰ society.

Anti-Muslim feeling has risen since the bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali in October 2002, when 88 Australians were killed in an attack blamed on a radical¹¹ Islamic group.

1 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

2 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

3 millennia   

n.一千年，千禧年

参考例句：

• For two millennia, exogamy was a major transgression for Jews. 两千年来，异族通婚一直是犹太人的一大禁忌。
• In the course of millennia, the dinosaurs died out. 在几千年的时间里，恐龙逐渐死绝了。

4 amassed   

v.积累，积聚( amass的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He amassed a fortune from silver mining. 他靠开采银矿积累了一笔财富。
• They have amassed a fortune in just a few years. 他们在几年的时间里就聚集了一笔财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 ceramics   

n.制陶业；陶器

参考例句：

• an exhibition of ceramics by Picasso 毕加索陶瓷作品展
• The ceramics bore the imprint of Luca della Robbia. 陶器上印有卢卡·德拉·罗比亚的字样。

6 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

7 devout   

adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness)

参考例句：

• His devout Catholicism appeals to ordinary people.他对天主教的虔诚信仰感染了普通民众。
• The devout man prayed daily.那位虔诚的男士每天都祈祷。

8 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

9 alienated   

adj.感到孤独的，不合群的v.使疏远( alienate的过去式和过去分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等）

参考例句：

• His comments have alienated a lot of young voters. 他的言论使许多年轻选民离他而去。
• The Prime Minister's policy alienated many of her followers. 首相的政策使很多拥护她的人疏远了她。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

11 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。