Treasures of the Aga Khan Museum: Arts of the book & calligraphy. [Exhibition catalogue].

Paperback. 4to. (29 x 24 cm). Edition in English. [xiv], 375 p., color ills. The "Treasures of the Aga Khan Museum" Exhibition, organized by Sabanci University Sakip Sabanci Museum (SSM) in collaboration with Aga Khan Trust for Culture, opens its doors on November 5, 2010. The exhibition, which presents selected masterpieces from th Aga Khan Museum collections, will be held in a mostly Muslim-populated country for th first time. The exhibition will showcase important works on paper and parchment from all parts of th Muslim world, from Indonesia to Sicily, from Andalusia to China, including gold an turquoise illuminated manuscripts from the tenth through the nineteenth centuries complemented by a wide range of rare objects in textile, stone, wood, ceramics an metalwork from the same period with calligraphic inscriptions or decoration reminiscent o illumination. SSM Director, Dr. Nazan Olcer, provided information about the exhibition, saying "Although the masterpieces of the Aga Khan Museum, which is due to be opened in 2013 i Toronto, have been exhibited in many European museums, it is the first time this exhibitio takes place in a Muslim country. The exhibition brings together selected masterpieces o Islamic art, and signifies the universality of Islam through the cultural and geographica variety of the pieces that have been collected, from Europe to China. The collection of Ag Khan Museum, via using the universal language of art. In this exhibit, we aim to recreate dialogue of mutual understanding and tolerance through showing the reflections of Islamic ar all around the world." General Manager of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Luis Monreal, mentioned that th masterpieces in this exhibit, which belong to the Aga Khan Museum (due to be opened i Toronto in 2013), added, "The idea to open such a museum in North America came up i order to show the pluralism of Islam to the Western world. Islam?s plurality comes from th fact that Islam is a religion over 1300 years old, spread over a vast geography, which ha believers from different traditions. In this exhibition, we will see pieces from China to Spain." The curator of the exhibition, Benoit Junod, said, "The exhibition features miniatur paintings from the celebrated Shahnama of Shah Tamasp; the earliest known manuscript o Ibn Sina?s Canon of Medicine, which became the medical reference book in Europe fo several centuries; and a manuscript of the 101 Nights, recently brought to light, which predates all other known versions by 500 years. Rare pages and illuminated volumes of th Qur'an will be shown, including a page from the "Blue Qur?an?, which is celebrated for it gold text on aquamarine-dyed parchment. The display of these exquisite artefacts, by th same exhibition architect as "Legendary Istanbul?, Boris Micka, is designed in a way tha creates an exciting, interactive experience. Some of the manuscripts will be available to rea on touch screens, in Persian, Turkish and English.".