Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), took part in the opening of the history and contemporary art exhibition titled “Paradise Gardens: The Art of Russian Islam,” on Tuesday, 12 May 2026. The exhibition is organized by the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation at its headquarters in Kazan, with high-level attendance, including ministers and officials, led by Ms. Irada Ayupova, Minister of Culture of Tatarstan.

In his opening remarks, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the special significance of the exhibition, being organized concurrently with ICESCO’s celebration of Kazan as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2026. He underscored that this celebration represents an exceptional opportunity to showcase the city’s cultural treasures to the world and strengthen artistic and intellectual exchange among civilizations.

The ICESCO Director-General commended the cultural outreach of the exhibition, which embodies the memory of the city of Kazan through its poetry, musical melodies, and handicrafts across the ages. He emphasized that the city speaks the language of culture through its streets, architecture, and distinguished museums, a characteristic shared by Tatarstan as a whole, where music, painting, and traditional crafts flourish, and where the literary heritage and poetry of Abdullah Tukay illuminate the minds and hearts of its people.

Dr. AlMalik affirmed that the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan opens broader horizons for Tatar culture by shedding light on the richness of national heritage, in addition to its role in presenting the region’s artistic identity and promoting cultural dialogue among nations and peoples.

He concluded by commending the efforts of the Ministry of Culture of Tatarstan in promoting cultural excellence, which have contributed to making Kazan a shining model of a city where heritage and contemporary creativity coexist in complete harmony.

It is worth noting that the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan is the oldest museum in the country. It houses the private collection of Russian archaeologist and historian Andrei Likhachev, comprising 40,000 artifacts, as well as a valuable collection of rare manuscripts and the personal archives of prominent figures in Tatar culture.