| Toronto, August 30, 2017: In a world exclusive, the Aga Khan Museum will share with the public an impressive array of carpets, textiles, ceramics, manuscript paintings, and metalwork spanning the 13th to 17th centuries, displayed in a dedicated exhibition outside Italy for the very first time. Opening September 23, 2017, Arts of the East: Highlights of Islamic Art from the Bruschettini Collection takes visitors from Spain to China, Egypt and Iran to the Caucasus on a dramatic journey orchestrated by guest exhibition designer Gerard Gauci from Opera Atelier to heighten the magnificence and significance of these rare objects.
The exhibition joins the Bruschettini Foundation with the Aga Khan Museum and curator Dr. Filiz Ҫakır Phillip in an important enterprise: showcasing the ingenuity of Islamic artisans while tracing how artistic and technical developments have continually transcended geographic boundaries and connected cultures, traditions, and historical eras. “We feel very fortunate to partner in the spirit of pluralism with The Bruschettini Foundation for Islamic and Asian Art,” notes Aga Khan Museum Director Henry Kim. “Arts of the East presents an astonishing view into four centuries of cross-cultural exchange and innovation.”
Highlights of the exhibition Arts of the East:
- A 13th-century velvet panel from Iran shimmering with gold discs suggesting Buddhist symbols of good fortune or çintemani
- An exquisite 16th-century silver bowl created in Turkey but influenced by the Golden Horde, where Balkan silversmiths and Iranian artisans shared expertise and inspiration
- A colourful Ottoman dish meticulously covered with scales — a dynamic pattern inspired either by Chinese or Italian wares
- A 16th-century Iranian painting of a high-stakes rivalry between two artists, one Greek and one Chinese
- A unique Mamluk carpet from Egypt displaying the technical mastery of Mamluk artisans of this art
“These objects are inherently theatrical,” says Gerard Gauci, who is resident set designer for Opera Atelier. “I want the visitor to feel moved by their beauty and inspired to unravel the stories they have to tell.”
A 248-page catalogue with full-colour plates accompanies the exhibition, bringing together contributions by Filiz Ҫakır Phillip and scholars Michael Franses and Claus-Peter Haase. On September 24, the Museum hosts the symposium The Art of Collecting, while the fall series Global Conversations brings to life the performing arts of Turkey, Iran, India, and more. For details about exhibition-related programming, visit agakhanmuseum.org.
Arts of the East: Highlights of Islamic Art from the Bruschettini Collection runs through January 21, 2018.
Based in Genoa, Italy, the Bruschettini Foundation for Islamic and Asian Art is renowned for its valuable work in the fields of Islamic art education, conservation, and scholarly endeavour.
The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada, has been established and developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The Museum’s mission is to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the contribution that Muslim civilizations have made to world heritage.
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Ismailimail 