Spotlight on Syria

Aga Khan Museum sorts old, new traditions

The beautiful Aga Khan Museum in Toronto recently hosted special guests for an exclusive preview of the world premiere exhibition Syria: A Living History.

It is the first major exhibition to spotlight Syria since the civil war began. Many of the works of art are being exhibited together for the first time and will give audiences a unique insight into the marvellous cultural traditions of both ancient and present-day Syria, thereby underscoring the dialogue between these traditions throughout the ages.

The Honourable Mélanie Joly and The Honourable John McCallum received a private tour of the exhibition with a small group, including newly settled Syrian refugees, led by co-curators Nasser Rabbat, Aga Khan Professor of Islamic Art and Architecture, MIT, and Dr. Filiz Çakır Phillip of the Aga Khan Museum.

A video message from the directorgeneral of UNESCO was played be- fore guests were invited to view the exhibition.

“We hope that a better appreciation of Syria’s priceless contributions to the world’s heritage over five millennia will add urgency to the efforts to bring about peace and reconciliation in that country,” said Aga Khan museum director and CEO, Henry Kim. “The sheer variety of these artifacts and their cultural breadth reveal Syria’s long and rich history of multiculturalism and how essential that diversity was to the development of so many of the world’s greatest civilizations.”

Bright lights in attendance included Clemens Reichel, associate curator, Royal Ontario Museum; Marc Trouyet, consul general, France; Marilyn Wolf, Marshall and Marilyn R. Wolf Collection; Mohammad Al Zaibak, CEO, CDM Information Inc.; Mohammed Badruddin, CFA, Wells Fargo; Nadir Mohamed, former CEO, Rogers; Nasir Noormohamed, CEO, Drug Intelligence Inc.; Peter Fahrenholtz, consul general, Germany; Riaz Ahmed, CFO, TD Bank Group; Selma Toprak, cultural attaché, France; Karima Karmali, VP, Ismaili Council of Canada; Dr. Emanuele Lepri, director, Bata Shoe Museum; and Shireen Atassi, director, Atassi Foundation.

The exhibition, which represents collaboration between seven international museums and private collections, will run through Feb. 26.

Jeweller Hania Kuzbari, from left, Zafer Sawaf and Sana Sawaf. CONNIE TSANG

ARTHUR MOLA Dr. Filiz Çakır Phillip of the Aga Khan Museum, left, and Dr. Emanuele Lepri, director, Bata Shoe Museum.

CONNIE TSANG Colin Carrie, MP, Oshawa, left, and Henry Kim, Aga Khan Museum director and chief executive.

CONNIE TSANG Shireen Atassi, Atassi Foundation director, left, and Ruba Kana’an, Aga Khan Museum head of education and scholarly programs.