artlyst [London Art Network] | New Aga Khan Museum To Showcase Cultural Contributions of Muslim Civilisations

“We hope that this museum will contribute to a better understanding of the peoples of Islam in all of their religious, ethnic, linguistic, and social diversity.”

– His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims,
address during the opening ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, Toronto & Aga Khan Museum,
Friday, September 12, 2014.

From their earliest origins, Muslim civilizations have been characterized by a remarkable diversity of geographies, languages, and cultures. Toronto — and Canada more generally — is internationally recognized for embracing such diversity. The city therefore provides an ideal home for an institution that strives to promote mutual understanding, respect and tolerance among the world’s cultures.

“The Aga Khan Museum has an international outlook … Home to a collection of astonishingly beautiful works of art, it will showcase the artistic creativity and achievements of Muslim civilizations from Spain to China. I think local and international visitors will be greatly surprised when they discover just how much the arts of Muslim civilizations are a part of our shared global cultural heritage.”

– Henry Kim, CEO and Director of the Aga Khan Museum

Since 2007, over 1 million people have experienced the splendor of the Aga Khan Museum Collection. The Musée du Louvre in Paris, the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon, the Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin, the Sakıp Sabancı Museum in Istanbul, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur and the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore have all hosted temporary exhibitions of major works of art from the Aga Khan Museum Collection.

Planispheric Astrolabe Spain (Historic al-­‐Andalus), 14th century Bronze inlaid with silver Diameter 13.5 cm AKM611

Ivory Horn (Oliphant) Southern Italy, 11th–12th centuries (mount: Great Britain, early 17th century) Carved ivory with silver mount Length 64 cm, height 34 cm AKM809

Capital Spain (Historic al-­‐Andalus), 10th century Carved marble Height 28 cm AKM663

Dish Iznik, Turkey, ca. 1570–80 Fritware, underglaze-­‐painted Diameter 34.3 cm, height 7.4 cm AKM687

Ablution Basin Jingdezhen, China, 1506–21 Porcelain Diameter 41.8 cm, height 7.5 cm AKM722

Shell With Inscriptions India (Historic Hindustan), 18th century Incised mother-­‐of-­‐pearl Diameter 14.5 cm AKM665

Rostam Pursues Akvan the Onager-­‐Div, folio 294r from a Shah-­‐Nahmeh (Book of Kings) produced for Shah Tahmasp I attributed to Mozaffar ‘Ali Tabriz, Iran, 1530–35 AKM162

Qanun [Fi’l-­‐Tibb] (Canon [Of Medicine]), Volume 5 Ibn Sina (d. 1037) Iran or Iraq, 1052 Opaque watercolor and ink on paper Folio: 21.2 x 16.4 cm AKM510 (image: Ismailimail/Aga Khan Museum)

via New Aga Khan Museum To Showcase Cultural Contributions of Muslim Civilisations.

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