Discovering cultures: A visit to the Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Centre

Aga Khan Museum

We were very excited this year to get a chance to visit the Aga Khan Museum as well as the Ismaili Centre over at Don Mills and Eglinton. We had passed by the area a few times and wondered what the interesting structure was. Good thing these were part of Doors Open Toronto this year and we managed to squeeze in a few hours to join the tours.

Art projections @ Aga Khan museum

At the magnificent Aga Khan building, several rooms housed collections of Islamic art and heritage, including artefacts from the private collections of His Highness the Aga Khan. The only exhibit we saw though was the Bellerive Room which was open to the public during the Doors Open. On display were such beautiful ceramics and pottery that DD#2 just had to take photos of each and every piece! No kidding. 

One of the displays of Iranian pottery @ Aga Khan museum

The rest of the galleries required admission. They do, however, hold free nights where these exhibits can be visited free of charge.

There was a restaurant, a gift shop, 

gift shop @ Aga Khan museum

a nice courtyard, 

courtyard @ Aga Khan museum

and a 340-seat auditorium where a Disklavier piano showcased wonderful acoustics. It was a wonderful place not only for exhibits but events and functions.

Disklavier at the Auditorium @ Aga Khan museum

 The 10,000 square-metre museum was designed by Pritzker Prize winner Fumihiko Maki and was surrounded by a large park (Aga Khan Park) designed by landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic. The site was also shared with a new Ismaili Centre designed by the Indian architect Charles Correa. We crossed the park by the reflecting pond to head there next.

Overlooking the dome of the prayer room at the Ismaili Centre

Reflecting pond at Aga Khan park

The Ismaili Centre Toronto is the sixth such Ismaili Centre in the world. 

Ismaili Centre Toronto

It hosts lectures, seminars, exhibits, cultural and social events. Various works of art on display were so beautiful to behold--the Islamic culture reflected in modern art. 

at the Ismaili Centre Toronto

at the Ismaili Centre Toronto

at the Ismaili Centre Toronto

Mosaics, tapestries, metalwork and even the sculpted wall (still unfinished even after months of work) mesmerized us.  The  girls were fascinated to observe all of this. 

at the Ismaili Centre Toronto

We were able to take photos except for the prayer room, of course. Before entering the prayer room, there was another room where we left our shoes and where one can also leave coats and such. The guides were very informative and provided some very interesting facts.

It was great to be able to visit these places we would not be able to see at any other time. It was a glimpse of a rich culture that is part of Toronto’s mosaic.