CHESTNUT HILL, MASS.- The McMullen Museum of Art at Boston College explores sources of wonder in the upcoming exhibition, Wonders of Creation: Art, Science, and Innovation in the Islamic World. Organized in collaboration with the San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA), the exhibition examines intersections of science and craft in Islamic material culture and contemporary art through the framework of a thirteenth-century text by Zakariyya ibn Muhammad al-Qazwini (1202–83) describing the wonders of the universe.

Wonders of Creation will be on view from February 9 through June 1, 2025 in the McMullen Museum’s Daley Family and Monan Galleries, the second and final venue for the exhibition, which debuted this fall at the SDMA.

“The McMullen is pleased to present, in collaboration with the San Diego Museum of Art, this landmark interdisciplinary exhibition that explores the complex, entwined relationship between art and science in the medieval Islamic world and how that relationship has continued to enhance global innovation and culture to the present day,” said Inaugural Robert L. and Judith T. Winston Director of the McMullen Museum Nancy Netzer, a professor of art history, Boston College.

“We hope that Wonders of Creation will spark conversations and new research leading to future innovations among a receptive audience in New England, where the arts and sciences have flourished for centuries, especially in our colleges and universities.”

This trailblazing exhibition, organized by Ladan Akbarnia, curator of South Asian and Islamic art at SDMA, showcases more than 170 extraordinary works of art and objects from the ninth century to the present—including some on display for the first time in the United States. Using wonder as a vehicle, Wonders of Creation illuminates the global impact of science and artistic production from the Islamic world and its diverse geographies and multifaceted visual cultures. Treasures—including illustrated manuscripts and paintings, maps, scientific instruments, magic bowls, luster dishes, architectural elements, and contemporary art—evoke wonder through a visual journey.

Integrating medieval and early modern art from the Islamic world with contemporary works, the exhibition allows visitors to gain a deeper appreciation of ingenuity and craftsmanship spanning twelve centuries.

The exhibition begins with an examination of Qazwini’s text—The Wonders of Creation and the Rarities of Existence—and its impact. Sections on the celestial realm, terrestrial sphere, and humankind examine topics such as astronomy, astrology, natural history, mineralogy, alchemy, medicine, geometry, and architecture through objects from Spain, North Africa, the Middle East to Central, South, and Southeast Asia as well modern diasporic regions.

“Wonders of Creation uses the framework of an influential thirteenth-century Islamic text to explore intersections of Islam, art, and science over several centuries across a diverse spectrum of works and cultural traditions,” said Akbarnia. “In the wake of the Mongol invasions, Qazwini’s The Wonders of Creation and the Rarities of Existence offered a portable description of the universe designed to inform as well as to entertain its readers, encouraging them to contemplate the marvels of divine creation.

“Today, through this important exhibition, it reminds us of our inherent curiosity as human beings, offering a fresh perspective to interpreting art and material culture through Qazwini’s lens of wonder and showcasing the Islamic world through historic works, contemporary art, living traditions and preservation efforts, and a substantial presence from collections in Kuwait and Malaysia. I am thrilled for Wonders of Creation to open at the McMullen Museum of Art to audiences at a university and city long known for embracing the pursuit of knowledge,” she added.

Written in Arabic and Persian, Qazwini’s revolutionary cosmography meticulously details the universe, blending scientific knowledge with popular anecdotes, portraying all phenomena as signs of divine creation. His richly illustrated work remains influential today, offering insights into Islamic culture and inspiring curiosity about natural phenomena. The author, an Islamic judge and professor, emphasized wonder as a path to knowledge, urging readers to contemplate natural marvels to deepen their understanding of God and the cosmos. Qazwini’s encyclopedic text serves as the framework accompanying exhibition visitors through the orbits of the cosmos from the heavens to the earth.

“Wonders of Creation provides an incredible opportunity to bring renowned artworks from premier collections around the world to Boston College, and to think about how art and science have shaped the world in which we live,” said Emine Fetvacı, Norma Jean Calderwood University Professor of Islamic and Asian Art at Boston College. “I am delighted that the McMullen Museum will host this innovative exhibition that showcases important artworks, scientific instruments, and treatises from the Islamic world.

“Qazwini’s book offers a wonderful lens through which to explore the intersections of art and science in the past as well as today,” she added. “The overlap of art and science are examined through all the materials in the exhibition, whether luster painted bowls, paintings illustrating amusing stories, or astrolabes to chart the skies. It is fascinating to see the continuing exploration of these themes via artworks and examples of material culture through the centuries, and even by contemporary artists.”

Wonders of Creation is complemented by a full-color catalogue with contributions from leading international scholars.