Ahead of the Aga Khan Museum opening, from 2007 to 2012, approximately 100 masterpiece artifacts from Aga Khan Museum’s prized collection toured several cities. The touring exhibition represented creative collaborations and partnership with world renowned European and Asian museums. At each of the host venues, representative country dignitaries graced the inauguration of the exhibition in the presence of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan and Prince Amyn Aga Khan. Dignitaries included His Majesty the King of Spain in Madrid , HRH the Prince of Wales – Prince Charles in London, and various Heads of States, Ministers and Civic Leaders at other respective venues.
These touring exhibitions were also a springboard for the production of beautiful catalogues used to interpret the various themes of the collection and masterpieces, and remain a tangible and permanent record of the legacy of the European and Asian tours.
Ismailimail is thrilled to provide some details of these “Road to Toronto” events and also links to downloadable electronic catalogues (pdf) for its patrons. We are also happy to share an extended extract from HRH the Prince of Wales – Prince Charles, at the inauguration ‘Spirit & Life’ Exhibition in London.
It is, if I may say so, London’s great good fortune that His Highness has chosen to open his Golden Jubilee celebrations with the ‘Spirit and Life’ Exhibition which my wife and I have just seen – we had to drag ourselves away from it! I understand that this is the first time these masterpieces of Islamic art have been seen in London. They are of quite exceptional historical importance and beauty. But, perhaps still more importantly, they also convey the clearest possible message about the close ties between the Abrahamic Faiths. For example, the magnificent Eleventh Century Canon of Medicine, which originated in Iran, was equally indispensable to Western scholars for the better part of five hundred years.
[3:33] So much attention is paid to the outward differences between Faiths … How refreshing it is, then, to be reminded by this marvellous exhibition of the spirituality from which our Faiths draw their real strength, and of the heritage and traditions which we share.
It is, of course, His Highness’s own leadership and vision which has brought this collection together. It is,if I may say so, it is that same leadership and vision which has enabled the Aga Khan Development Network to grow into an organization of international importance, addressing development needs in some thirty-five countries around the World, bridging boundaries of race and religion.
Can I also just say a brief word about the Ismaili community in this country, and the contribution they make to modern British society. I can only applaud your emphasis on intellectual and cultural exploration as a means of integration, and your determination to discharge your obligations as citizens of this country without losing your own distinctive traditions. I suspect it is no coincidence that the younger members of your community have among the highest participation in tertiary education, helping to create strong role models for all young people in Britain. The reasons behind this are probably more a subject for a Doctoral thesis than a short speech. But I have no doubt that the existence of shared values is a key defining factor. These values celebrate humility, greatness of soul, honour, magnanimity and, indeed, hospitality. They form the bedrock of the excellent outreach work of the Ismaili Centre. These shared values are perhaps, the greatest of the treasures displayed here today…
Your Highness, in concluding, and on behalf of my Wife and myself, can I offer our most affectionate and heartfelt congratulations on your Golden Jubilee and our fervent hope, Insha’ Allah, many, many more years of outstanding service to your community lay ahead.
– HRH The Prince of Wales at the Opening of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s the ‘Spirit & Life’ Exhibition at the Ismaili Centre, London, UK July 12, 2007
Splendori a Corte – Palazzo della Pilotta, Parma, Italy
Inaugurated by Mr. Elvio Ubaldi, Mayor of Parma on March 30, 2007
Exhibition: March 31, 2007 – June 6, 2007
Find out more on the exhibition
Ismailimail related news & stories
Download Catalogue, Size: 13.30MB, 202 pages
Spirit and Life – The Ismaili Centre, London, United Kingdom
Inaugurated by HRH the Prince of Wales – Prince Charles on July 12, 2007
Exhibition: July 14, 2007 – August 31, 2007
Find out more on the exhibition
Ismailimail related news & stories
Download Catalogue, Size: 16.04MB, 222 pages
Chefs-d’oeuvre Islamiques de l’Aga Khan Museum – The Louvre, Paris, France
Inaugurated by French Minister of Culture and Communications & Minister of Budget on July 12, 2007
Exhibition: October 5, 2007 – January 7, 2008
Find out more on the exhibition
Ismailimail related news & stories
Download Catalogue, Size: Size: 8.33MB, 228 pages
The Path of Princes – The Gulbenkian Museu, Lisbon, Portugal
Inaugurated by Portugal’s Minister of Culture, José António Pinto Ribeiro and Emílio Rui Vilar, President of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in the presence of Prince Amyn Aga Khan.
Exhibition: March 14, 2008 – July 26, 2008
Find out more on the exhibition
Ismailimail related news & stories
Download Catalogue, Size: 21.5MB, 308 pages
Los Mundos del Islam en las colecciones del Aga Khan Museum – CaixaForum, Madrid and Barcelona, Spain
Inaugurated by His Majesty the King of Spain in Madrid
Exhibition: June 5, 2009 – September 6, 2009 (Madrid)
Exhibition: October 1, 2009 – January 17, 2010 (Barcelona)
Find out more on the exhibition
Ismailimail related news & stories
Download Catalogue, Size: 16MB, 274 pages
Geographies of Islam – The Real Fundación, Toledo, Spain
Exhibition: October 9, 2008 – January 17, 2009
Find out more on the exhibition
Ismailimail related news & stories
Download Catalogue, Size: 2.76MB, 2 pages
Schätze des Aga Khan Museum. Meisterwerke der islamischen Kunst (Treasures of the Aga Khan Museum. Masterpieces of Islamic Art) – Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin, Germany
Inaugurated by Federal President Köhler of the Federal Republic of Germany on March 16, 2010.
Exhibition: March 17, 2010 – June 6, 2010
Find out more on the exhibition
Ismailimail link of related stories & news
Download Catalogue, Size: 21MB, 292 pages
Treasures of the Aga Khan Museum: Arts of the Book and Calligraphy – Sakip Sabanci Museum, Istanbul, Turkey
Inaugurated by Dr. Nazan Ölçer, Director of the Sakip Sabanci Museum, in the presence of Prince Amyn Aga Khan.
Exhibition: November 9, 2010 – February 27, 2011
Find out more on the exhibition
Ismailimail link of related stories & news
Download Catalogue, Size: 14MB, 376 pages
Treasures of the Aga Khan Museum: Architecture in Islamic Arts
Asian Civilisations Museum – Singapore
Exhibition: July 19, – October 28, 2012
Find out more on the exhibition
Ismailimail news & stories
Islamic Arts Museum – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Inaugurated by Malaysia’s Culture Minister Dato Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim
Exhibition: March 30, 2012 – June 29, 2012
Find out more on the exhibition
Ismailimail news & stories
The State Hermitage Museum – St. Petersburg, Russia
Exhibition: November 2011 – February 2012
Find out more on the exhibition
Ismailimail news & stories
Download Catalogue, Size: 30MB, 364 pages
Credits: AKDN.org for catalogues, HRH the Prince of Wales speech, and images.