The Art of Intergretation

The Art of Integration is a graceful and visually poetic reminder that Muslims have been a part of British life for well over a century and have made and continue to make an important contribution to the United Kingdom's rich cultural diversity. Contrary to the headlines and editorializing, the vast majority of Muslims live peacefully and productively in Britain and many have significantly enriched the intellectual and cultural landscape of this great island nation. Peter Sanders captures a few of these wonderful people: physicians, scholars, writers, teachers, calligraphers, rock and folk-rock icons, a city councillor, award-winning architect, publisher, sculptor, graffiti artist, cosmetician, police constable, fashion designer, driver, Etonians, Oxbridgians, and many others. The architectural influences from the Muslim world expressed in Leighton House, the Shah Jehan Mosque in Woking and a Turkish bath in the shadow of the Gherkin contribute to the pageant of images in this beautiful and vibrant photographic essay.

Peter Sanders is internationally recognised as one of the world's leading photographers of the Islamic world. He began his career in the mid-1960's covering London's seminal rock-and-roll scene, capturing now legendary music icons in a collection that is considered a classic by collectors: images that include Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Who, The Rolling Stones, and others. Towards the end of the 1970's, Sanders' attention turned inward, which set him on a spiritual search that took him to India and led him to other parts of the Muslim world. All the while, Sanders captured his surroundings on film, creating a striking and disparate record of the last vestiges of traditional Muslim societies in transition. Sanders' own deep commitment to and love of traditional Islamic culture has brought him into intimate contact with people and places few photographers reach. "My photography has always been an extension of my life," he said. "Photography is a wonderful process - a gift from God - that has allowed me to learn so much about myself and the world around me. It's like chasing a moment, trying to capture a beautiful bird in flight." Japanese Art Critic, Tsuyoshi Kawasoe, says about Sanders' work, "The photographs are extremely, extraordinarily beautiful.".