Six Pakistani artists’ work featured at Aga Khan Museum inaugural exhibition

19 September 2014: (PR) The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, which is dedicated to presenting an overview of the artistic, intellectual and scientific contributions that Muslim civilisations have made to world heritage, opened its doors to the public today.

Two exhibitions were opened to the public:  “In Search of the Artist: Signed paintings and drawings from the Aga Khan Museum Collection,” and a second inaugural exhibition entitled “The Garden of Ideas: Contemporary Art from Pakistan.”

While the former forms a selection of signed paintings and drawings from the permanent collection, including masterpieces from Iranian and Indian art, the latter — The Garden of Ideas: Contemporary Art from Pakistan — features the art of six renowned artists who live in Pakistan: Bani Abidi, Nurjahan Akhlaq, David Chalmers Alesworth, Aisha Khalid, Atif Khan and Imran Qureshi.

More details on each artist can be found here: https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/exhibitions/garden-ideas-contemporary-art-pakistan

The Museum’s Permanent Collection of over 1,000 objects includes masterpieces that reflect a broad range of artistic styles and materials. These portraits, textiles, miniatures, manuscripts, ceramics, tiles, medical texts, books and musical instruments represent more than ten centuries of human history and a geographic area stretching from the Iberian Peninsula to China.

In a speech delivered at the official inauguration of the Museum six days before the opening, on 12 September 2014, Prince Amyn Aga Khan noted “the special role that we expect the Aga Khan Museum to play, as a gateway into the history and artistic traditions of the Muslim world — nearly a fifth of humanity — for those non-Muslims and even Muslims who wish to better understand that world. The Aga Khan Museum will play this role at a time when such a gateway is profoundly needed.”

“The Aga Khan Museum showcases Muslim civilisations, both their achievements  over the last ten centuries and the creativitiy of contemporary artists from these areas,” said Henry Kim, Director of the Museum.   “We believe both present a window on worlds that are still not well known and, I hope,  contribute to a better understanding of Muslim civilisations in all of their diversity.”

From their earliest origins, Muslim civilisations have been characterised by a remarkable diversity of geographies, languages, and cultures. Toronto – and Canada more generally – is internationally recognised 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.

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For broadcast quality B Roll, please see the download link: http://linxproductions.com/article/toronto2014/  For a shotlist, please see Annex A of this release.

For more information about the Aga Khan Museum, its upcoming exhibitions and programming, please visit www.agakhanmuseum.org