Yesterday the Aga Khan Islamic Museum opened its doors to the public in Toronto. https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/ The Aga Khan is a billionaire philanthropist whose various projects help lift people out of poverty, build understanding between races and religions, and support the arts. This museum is a $300 million celebration of Islamic art through the centuries. Toronto was chosen because of its diversity, and the peaceful and welcoming character of our nation. The museum is set on seven hectares of land adjacent to the Don Valley Parkway and includes a mosque as well as the galleries. There are 1000 pieces now gathered from other collections around the world.
I am itching to get to the museum. As you will have figured out, I have strong convictions about art as a spiritual expression and I am sure this collection will provide insight, a window, into Islam. Unfortunately the great Islamic flowering of science, art, and architecture has been overshadowed in the past century by fundamentalists. It seems that fundamentalists in all religions are suspicious of artistic expression, as though it competes with faith rather than giving it visual power.
Have you heard about this new museum? Would you be comfortable visiting it, even though it may not reflect your religious faith?
2 comments:
I would go to see such an exhibit... the detailed designs in Islamic art are amazing.
This is the sort of thing that would make a good "class trip" for our congregation Judy.
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