Aga Khan Museum Presents Artists’ Panel with Aisha Khalid and Imran Qureshi at Art Dubai on March 19, 2015

Panel Part of the Highly Anticipated Series, Terrace Talks

Toronto, March 18, 2015 – The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, in conjunction with His Excellency Arif Lalani, Ambassador of Canada to the UAE and Canada’s Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, will be hosting an artists’ panel with internationally renowned Pakistani artists Aisha Khalid and Imran Qureshi at this year’s Art Dubai, the leading international art fair in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. The event will take place Thursday, March 19 from 6–7 pm at the Water Terrace of The Abraaj Group Lounge, Madinat Jumeirah as part of Art Dubai’s Terrace Talks Series exploring the relationships and support networks between artists, curators, and patrons. This year’s Art Dubai — now in its 9th edition — is exceptionally global in scope, showcasing more than 500 artists and representing over 40 countries worldwide. “As an institution that highlights connections between Muslim civilizations and world heritage, Art Dubai presents an exciting forum in which to discuss global connections,” notes Henry S. Kim, Aga Khan Museum Director and CEO.
Kim will moderate the artists’ panel on March 19. He notes, “Aisha Khalid and Imran Qureshi are tremendously important artists in their own right, but they also have a special relationship with our Museum. Their involvement in our inaugural contemporary exhibition, The Garden of Ideas: Contemporary Art from Pakistan resulted in two extraordinary commissions that respond to the formal garden on our site designed by Vladimir Djurovic. Aisha created the tapestry Your Way Begins on the Other Side, which has just become the very first contemporary acquisition of the Aga Khan Museum. Imran created the site-specific paintingThe Garden Within, planting a beautiful illusion for our visitors to engage with as they explore our garden.” Kim adds that the Aga Khan Museum aims to “introduce visitors not only to the traditional arts of Muslim civilizations, but also to the continuum of art practice over generations and the many ways that traditional art forms have inspired contemporary artists. Contemporary art will continue to form a vibrant part of the Aga Khan Museum’s exhibition programming just as the Museum has showcased contemporary approaches to music, dance, and film.” An upcoming exhibition featuring works from the Barjeel Art Foundation Collection will further this aim.

For Art Dubai audiences, Khalid and Qureshi will discuss their artistic practice and sources of inspiration in addition to their experiences as contributing artists to The Garden of Ideas exhibition at the Aga Khan Museum. A question-and-answer period will follow the discussion, and a reception hosted by the Aga Khan Museum from 7–8 pm will conclude the event.

His Excellency Arif Lalani, Ambassador of Canada to the UAE and Canada’s Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation will also co-host a special presentation on the Aga Khan Museum at the Ismaili Centre in Dubai from 11 am to 12 pm on March 20. The International Preview of the Aga Khan Museum, presented in partnership with the Government of Canada, was held at the Ismaili Centre as part of the 8th annual Art Dubai in 2014.

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

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. Opened in September 2014, it is the first museum in North America to be dedicated to Muslim civilizations. Its stunning building, designed by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, houses two floors of exhibition space, a 350-seat auditorium, classrooms, and public areas designed to accommodate innovative programming for all ages and interests.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) focuses on the physical, social, cultural and economic revitalization of communities in the developing world, but some of its programs, including the Museum, span both the developed and developing worlds.
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a private, international, non-denominational development organization, is active in 30 countries and employs over 80,000 people globally
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