Shahed Saleem Reclaims Europe's Muslim Heritage Through Intricate Woven Tapestries

British-Bangladeshi architect and academic Shahed Saleem has launched a landmark UK exhibition featuring vibrant, custom-woven tapestries that retrace centuries of Muslim life across Europe. By visually interweaving medieval Islamic history, post-war South Asian migration, and contemporary battles against Islamophobia, the exhibition reclaims the European cultural narrative through the ancient medium of textile storytelling.

Threading Century-Old Histories into Modern Looms

For centuries, European monarchs and military leaders immortalized their triumphs through decorative hangings—most famously exemplified by the Bayeux Tapestry. Shahed Saleem adopts this exact historical tradition, but flips its focus entirely toward marginalized stories. Rather than documenting royal dynasties, his multi-colored looms chronicle the Quiet arrival of post-WWII South Asian and North African laborers who rebuilt war-torn European cities, alongside the deep-seated Islamic roots embedded in Moorish Spain and the Ottoman Balkans.

Saleem, a reader at the University of Westminster and author of The British Mosque: An Architectural and Social History, treats textile as an archive of memory. Each panel uses stark typography, architectural silhouettes, and vivid iconography to record pivotal moments: from the establishment of the UK’s earliest makeshift prayer halls in the late 19th century to the political backlash following global events in the early 2000s. The art does not merely present history as nostalgia; it documents how Muslim identities have been persistently crafted inside Western spaces.

"Textiles carry a intimacy and portability that match the migrant experience," Saleem explains regarding his choice of medium. "When people move, they carry fabrics, rugs, and clothing. Woven threads physically mirror how communities weave themselves into the fabric of a new society over generations."

Converting Everyday Spaces into Sacred Memory

A central motif throughout the exhibition is the evolution of Muslim architectural space across the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Long before purpose-built domes and minarets dotted Western skylines, Muslim communities adapted the urban fabric already available to them.

The tapestries visually detail these transitional spaces: Victorian terraced houses in Northern England transformed into neighborhood madrasas, disused bingo halls converted into Friday congregation sites, and former industrial warehouses turned into bustling community centers. Saleem’s background as a practising architect shines through these depictions, treating converted bricks and mortar not as compromises, but as authentic expressions of vernacular European architecture.

By highlighting these humble beginnings, the artwork directly challenges contemporary far-right political rhetoric that frames Islamic presence as a sudden, alien intrusion. The tapestries map out decades of municipal approvals, local fundraising drives, and civic participation, demonstrating that European mosques have always been collaborative products of local urban geography.

Confronting Political Hostility Through Tactile Resilience

The exhibition does not shy away from the darker chapters of the European Muslim experience. Several tapestries explicitly incorporate inflammatory media headlines, anti-immigrant political slogans, and depictions of physical violence against mosques and visible Muslims.

Visually juxtaposing hostile tabloid commentary with scenes of quiet worship and community organizing, the artwork exposes the systemic nature of anti-Muslim sentiment across the continent. High-profile incidents of Islamophobic violence and legislative bans on religious attire in countries like France are woven directly into the timeline. Yet, the dominant motif remains one of perseverance rather than victimhood.

The physical durability of woven thread serves as a direct metaphor for community endurance. Where paint can chip and paper can tear, tightly woven tapestry holds its structural integrity under pressure. Saleem’s exhibit forces visitors to recognize that European Muslims are not passive subjects of historical debates, but active co-creators of modern European society.

By transforming historical documentation into tactile fine art, Shahed Saleem offers a powerful corrective to simplified political narratives, providing both Muslim and non-Muslim audiences a nuanced visual ledger of belonging, resistance, and identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Shahed Saleem and what is the core theme of his UK art exhibition?

Shahed Saleem is a British-Bangladeshi architect, academic, and author known for his comprehensive research on Western Islamic architecture. His exhibition utilizes woven tapestries to chart centuries of European Muslim history, post-war migration, and community resilience against Islamophobia.

How does the exhibition address the issue of Islamophobia in Europe?

The tapestries directly incorporate media headlines, anti-immigrant slogans, and visual depictions of hostility alongside scenes of daily Muslim life and solidarity. By embedding these events into traditional textile timelines, Saleem frames modern Islamophobia within a broader historical continuum of struggle and endurance.

What architectural history is showcased in Saleem's textile artwork?

The artwork depicts the evolution of European Muslim spaces, focusing on converted Victorian terrace houses, former cinemas, and industrial warehouses used as early prayer halls. It highlights how Muslim communities organically adapted existing Western urban infrastructure long before purpose-built mosques were constructed.