Founded in 2004 by Managing Director, Dr. Mandana Barkeshli , Art & Identity is a network of professionals from the fields of art and architecture history, architecture and interior design, traditional craft, conservation, and museum management.

In a technically advancing, globalized world, concepts of self and cultural identity become blurred in the rat-race of daily modern life. Art and Identity is born out of the recognition of this fact and the desire to imbue a sense of identity and cultural pride back into people's lives, through the medium of art and the rejuvenation of cultural heritage. Art & Identity specializes in the art and culture of the Islamic world in its global context, from Western Asia to Africa to the Far East . Based in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia , Art and Identity sits between west and east, and acts as a conduit for cultural exchange between the countries of the Middle East and North Africa , and Southeast and Eastern Asia . A central component of Art & Identity, which facilitates its goals, is the provision of knowledge-based services in the fields of fine art, architecture, and conservation. Art & Identity, thus, acts as a museum and gallery consultant , supplies interior designs and i.d. consultancy, conceptualizes and organizes exhibitions, visualizes an Islamic inspired aesthetic for architectural spaces, and more.

Art & Identity is also the official agent in Malaysia for:

 

I.S. Gostar
Isfahan-based construction company specializing in traditional Islamic architectural decoration.

Shamseh International Art Centre
Tehran-based research centre and workshop, producing high-quality Islamic works faithful to historical technique and design.

 

MISSION

To revive and cultivate traditional Islamic arts

To promote contemporary Islamic arts by organizing exhibitions of contemporary artists from the Muslim world

To incorporate Islamic aesthetics into every day living through architecture and design

To advise museums and galleries in a range of areas from record management to exhibition design

To educate on the appropriate and accurate care of artefacts and art objects necessary for their continued survival

To educate the public about Islamic heritage and create awareness about contemporary Islamic art