Aga Khan Trust for Culture: 14th century Cairo mosque restored to glory

Developers unveiled the restoration of a 650-year-old mosque in Cairo’s old city, part of an effort to revitalize the impoverished district and boost tourism to the country’s treasure trove of Islamic sites. The three-year, $1.4 million project restored the Aslam al-Silahdar Mosque, built in
who rose to the position of “silahdar,” or “swordbearer” for Sultan al-Nasir [...]

Strategic plan for Walled City development

The Aga Khan Cultural Services of Pakistan and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture have prepared a strategic plan for the Walled City, which embraces urban planning, urban heritage conservation, infrastructure development and land-use planning.
This was announced at a joint press briefing held at Delhi Gate Shahi Hamam on Wednesday by Sustainable Development of Walled [...]

Aga Khan Cultural Service: Walled City rehabilitation to take 20 years

WITH the political will and support of the Punjab government and the technical assistance by the Aga Khan Cultural Service, the rehabilitation of the Walled City will be completed within the 20 years under the ongoing Walled City Project.
This was stated by Masood Khan, the technical director Aga Khan Cultural Service, Pakistan, (AKCSP) during a [...]

Modern Islamic Arts Exhibition opens at UOS

H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, opened the “Modern Islamic Arts” Exhibition held in the College of Fine Arts & Design at University of Sharjah, as part of the College’s participation in the Sharjah Islamic Festival 2009 “Cosmos Mosaic” organized by the Arts section under [...]

An Exhibition of the Greatest Treasures of Islamic Art in Barcelona

An Exhibition of the Greatest Treasures of Islamic Art in Barcelona
The CaixaForum exhibition in Barcelona will start next week with a large sample of Islamic art. “The Worlds of Islam” exhbition will observe for the first time, in Barcelona, pieces that are emblematic by the common denominator of the Arabic language and Muslim religion. The [...]

Benefits for Hunza people sought

HUNZA is known as a paradise on earth because of its natural beauty, enticing snowy mountains, the Rakaposhi view and the ladyfinger mountain.
The old human settlements and forts are conserved by the Aga Khan Trust’s cultural service, Pakistan. At the same time, people of Hunza are peaceful, honest and diligent.
Hunza is also the hub of [...]

From the Past: The Old Bridge of Mostar

Stari Most ,”The Old Bridge”, is a 16th century bridge in the city of Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina) that crosses the river Neretva and connects two parts of the city.
The Old Bridge stood for 427 years, until the bridge was destroyed on November 9, 1993 during the Bosnian War.
After the end of the war, plans [...]

Ismaili Photography Competition: The Winners

2009 ISM Photography Competition

For full preview of the photographs and detail info visit Source

The baoli that lives up to its name

The Chashma-e-Dilkhusha (the spring which pleases the heart) had started looking dirty and causing pain to not just history lovers but also to believers of this baoli’s ‘medicinal properties’.
The only baoli (step well) to still hold water in Delhi, it was built by Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya in 1321-22.
A few months ago, this almost 800-year-old structure [...]

From Cairo to Kabul: The Aga Khan’s historic cities program

I attended a fascinating presentation last week by Jurjen van der Tas, deputy director of the Historic Cities Programme, established by the Aga Khan.
The talk took place at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat on Sussex Drive.
The program undertakes the restoration and rehabilitation of historic structures and public spaces as a way to improve living [...]

IIS Scholar Presents at International Symposium, Göttingen

Dr Omar Alí-de-Unzaga, Coordinator of IIS’ Qur’anic Studies Unit, presented a paper on the concept of resurrection and the hereafter in the thought of the Pure Brethren or Ikhwan al-Safa‘ at an international symposium in Göttingen, Germany from 27 to 31 May, 2009.The symposium, themed ‘Roads to Paradise: Eschatology and Concepts of the Hereafter in [...]

Spain to host Islamic art exhibition

A photography exhibition entitled “Islamic Art in 5 Continents” will be hosted by the Madrid-based Spain-Morocco Center in early November.
Moroccan website Yabiladi reported that the exhibition seeks to introduce Islamic art to Spainish citizens and encourage them to gain information on Islamic art.
It has been also organized in order to feature various aspects of Islamic [...]

Detail Article: Islamic Art – A Unique History

Islamic Art – A Unique History
Islamic art presents the arts produced from the 7th century onwards by people who lived within the territory that was inhabited by culturally Islamic populations. It includes fields as varied as architecture, calligraphy, painting, and ceramics, among others. Islamic art is not an art pertaining to religion only.
The Ismaili News prepared [...]

Islamic art exhibit at Oklahoma City’s Gold Dome honors Ramadan

Islamic artReligious DEVOTION seen in paintings, drawings, clay works.

With broad, intentional strokes of a paintbrush, Tehmina Cheema of Edmond shows her reverence for Allah.
Allah as the source of peace.
Allah the generous.
The many attributes of Allah are an integral part of Cheema’s artwork featured in a new Islamic art exhibit on display at the Gold Dome.
The [...]

..And Diverse Are Their Hues..!! – The Islamic Art Conference In Spain

The Hamad bin Khalifa Symposium on Islamic Art, organized by Sheila S. Blair and Jonathan M. Bloom, is a leading international conference on Islamic art and culture. It is co-sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, VCUQatar and the Qatar Foundation. Previous symposia were held in Richmond, Virginia in 2004 and in Doha, [...]

Homayun Sakhi : The Art of the Afghan Rubab

Tradition never dies, it just evolves

Green Cardamom, currently supported by the Rangoonwala Foundation is a London based, not for profit, arts organisation that develops and runs visual arts projects in collaboration with public museums and galleries. Its primary focus is international contemporary art viewed from an ‘Indian Ocean perspective’. Their programme is informed by artistic practice in Pakistan, South and [...]

Geometric Concepts in Islamic Art

 

Recently, my research and explorations have been preoccupied by looking towards the East. In an attempt to move into a direction that is more free, less stagnant, faster and more energetic than my previous work, I have been chasing culture of the unknown, the orient, darkness and color. I have been searching for this in [...]

AKAFA: Khuda-ki-Basti Incremental Development Scheme, Hyderabad, Pakistan

Khuda-ki-Basti is a grid-like, planned layout within the 5500-acre Gulshan-e-Shabbaz housing development located in Hyderabad. It is the site of a development scheme devised by the Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA) to help the poorest families house themselves. In this sector homeless Pakistanis are given the chance to settle on land, and to obtain permanent. Given [...]

Mehboob Dewji: Magnificent Digital Islamic Patterns

Artist: Mehboob Dewji
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Themes: Digital patterns inspired
by the Alhambra
Medium: Electronic using Photoshop
  
The patterns were created using Photoshop. I started with just one straight line, gave it a texture and color and used filters to create geometric patterns. Again using different colors and texture, I added layers of different geometric shapes to create a [...]

Inaugurating Ceremony of the Restoration of Forodhani Park – Photographs

  
 
Source: AKDN

Aga Khan pledges support for Zanzibar

His Highness the Aga Khan yesterday assured Zanzibar of continued support in undertaking development projects, including setting up a microfinance scheme that will provide loans amounting to more than Sh1 billion.
Speaking during the opening of the refurbished Forodhani Park, the Aga Khan said the initiative would offer about 1,000 loans to different segments of Zanzibaris.
Forodhani [...]

Aga Khan Trust for Culture: Afghanistan Newsletter 2009

Download the Aga Khan trust for Culture Afghanistan Newsletter 2009 from here
Source: ArchNet

Aga Khan Trust for Culture: At Humayun’s tomb, weight is off

NEW DELHI: In a unique initiative to restore the architectural integrity and historical significance of the 17th century Humayun’s Tomb, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) have removed a thick layer of cement concrete from the mausoleum’s roof that was putting a pressure of about 10 lakh kg [...]

Hussain Aga Khan at F.U.E.L. Collection Tonight

“From his global travels Hussain Aga Khan has been able to capture exotic creatures in their natural habitats from every corner of the world. Khan displays 52 digital prints, ranging in size from 11″ x 15″ to 38″ x 42″. The resultant effect of the larger print sizes envelopes his viewer within the scene, where [...]

Aga Khan Collections presents Islamic Art

Aga Khan Collection presents Islamic art from Andalus to India
 
 
adrid is currently hosting the exhibition “The Islamic Worlds in the Aga Khan Museum Collection” which shows some of the greatest treasures of Islamic art, from ancient al-Andalus to India.  The exhibition, available until September 6, 2009, will travel several other cities such as Barcelona, Onculture.eu [...]

London exhibition provides insight into the life of Persian ruler

 London exhibition provides insight into the life and legacy of a prominent Persian ruler  
A major exhibition on the life and legacy of the Safavid Emperor Shah Abbas I, who ruled Persia from 1587 – 1629, is on at the British Museum in London until 14 June 2009. Coinciding with the thirtieth anniversary of the Iranian [...]

Montada Project Launches Forums to Preserve Maghreb Architecture

Montada is a new UN-funded project that aims to promote heritage architecture in the Maghreb. As a part of the Euromed Heritage 4 program, Montada (Arabic for “forum”) will advance conservation efforts in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia through a series of forums intended to engage local populations in the preservation of the built environment

Allah in Kufic Script basis of Aga Khan Award for Architecture Logo

The logo of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, shown above and in the photos produced on this page, was designed by Karl Schlamminger, a German Muslim of the Shia tradition. The Name of Allah in Kufic* Script, reflecting Itself and repeating Itself, forms the basis of the logo design.  Mr. Schlamminger also designed the prayer [...]

CAIXAFORUM MADRID PRESENTS THE WORLDS OF ISLAM IN THE AGA KHAN MUSEUM COLLECTION

MADRID – “la Caixa” Social and Cultural Outreach Projects at CaixaForum Madrid shows some of the greatest treasures of Islamic art, from ancient al-Andalus to India. The art, the history, the traditions and the geographies of the Islamic world from the Far East to the Iberian Peninsula are the subjects of the exhibition The Worlds [...]