This summer’s exhibition brings an exciting contemporary artist response to a medieval Arabic book of maps from the Chester Beatty’s Islamic Collections. Composed by the tenth-century geographer al-Istakhri, the Book of Routes and Realms (Kitāb al-Masālik wa al-Mamālik) contains 21 colour maps of world regions. The manuscript will be on display with dramatic new work commissioned from Dublin-based artist Diaa Lagan, responding to the global themes and personal perspectives that we can all draw from maps of our changing world.

Opens Friday 16 May 2025

More information to follow about our public programme!