Ali Akbar is a researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jakarta, Indonesia. Previously he worked at Bayt al-Qur’an & Museum Istiqlal, Jakarta (2007-2021). His research interests are codicology, calligraphy, palaeography, lithography, and the art of Southeast Asian Qur’ans and Islamic
manuscripts. Akbar’s publications include co-authored ‘Islamic Manuscripts’ in James Bennett & Russell Kelty (eds.), Interwoven journeys: Michael Abbott collections of Asian Art (Adelaide, 2023): 225-236; ‘The Influence of Ottoman Qur’ans in Southeast Asia through the Ages,’ in A.C.S. Peacock and Annabel Teh Gallop (eds), From Anatolia to Aceh: Ottomans, Turks and Southeast Asia (Oxford University Press, 2015): 311-334; ‘Tracing individual styles: Islamic calligraphy from Nusantara,’Lektur 5:2 (2007): 244-255; and co-authored ‘The Art of the Qur’an in Banten: Calligraphy and Illumination,’ Archipel 72 (2006): 95-126. He writes a blog (in Indonesian) on the Qur’ans in Southeast Asia.