The Creative Process as Interfaith: How Contemporary Art Supports Interreligious Dialogue in Singapore

The Creative Process as Interfaith: How Contemporary Art Supports Interreligious Dialogue in Singapore By Ali Hussain SYNOPSIS Contemporary art is a good example of Tinu Ruparell’s notion of “interstitial interreligious dialogue”, a means to engage and connect through the shared appreciation of art and the creative process. [...] COMMENTARY Nestled between Singapore’s seaport, one of the busiest in the world, and the city- state’s financial district, the shrine of Habib Noh al-Habsyi (d. [...] Stated differently, this summit of interfaith and its accompanying siren song of interreligious dialogue is a good example of Tinu Ruparell’s “interstitial theology”, “a mode or methodology for the comparative philosophy of religion which exploits the structure of metaphor … and aims at the construction of liminal, hybrid perspectives or standpoints for continuing the conversation of religions in. [...] But the city-state also hosts some of the most prominent art institutions and schools in the world, such as LASALLE college for the arts and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). [...] Dr Ali Hussain is Lecturer at the University of Michigan, Department of Middle Eastern Studies and founder of the Adhwaq Centre for Spirituality, Culture and the Arts.