Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Centre Draw Thousands during Doors Open Event Held in Toronto on May 25-26, 2019

By ABDULMALIK MERCHANT
Publisher-Editor Simergphotos, Simerg, and BarakahThe Aga Khan Museum welcomes the public to Doors Open held on May 25-26, 2019.  Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

The 2019 version of Doors Open Toronto event celebrated 20 years on the weekend of May 25-26, drawing thousands of visitors to more than 150 buildings across the city. Visitors got a chance to explore some of Toronto’s most architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings.

The Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili Centre are among the more recent gems in the city and have proved extremely popular during the Doors Open since they were inaugurated more than 4 years ago. 2019 was no exception as staff and volunteers welcomed more than 8,000 visitors over two days. The buildings were inaugurated in September 2014 by His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The Aga Khan Park’s opening took place a few months later during the spring of 2015.

Visitors left with a sense of amazement and wonder after experiencing the exterior and internal beauty of the two buildings. Guides were on hand to provide brief insights into the artistic and cultural elements of the two buildings. The entire two day event was extremely well organized, and thousands took to see the Aga Khan Park after their visits to the Aga Khan Museum and the dome-shapped Ismaili Centre, with its beautiful Jamatkhana underneath.

Thousands of visitors walked through the doors of the Aga Khan Museum on May 25-26, 2019 to get a glimpse of the museum’s artistic and architectural splendour. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A guide points out features of the Aga Khan Museum’s open air courtyard during the Doors Open Event held on the weekend of May 25-26, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

“LIGHT” – the theme of the Aga Khan Museum through its open sky courtyard. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

An 8-pointed star in the centre of the Aga Khan Museum’s open air courtyard area. In this particular case, the structure also allows water from rain and snow to drain into an underground reservoir. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A guide has the attention of children as she introduces the ceramic art collection of the Late Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan and his wife Princess Catherine. The collection is housed in the Bellerive Room of  the Aga Khan Museum.Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Visitors are shown the Aga Khan Museum’s concert hall, which  features outstanding musical performances on a regular basis. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A truly inspiring moment for visitors as they see the beautiful spiral staircase located just outside the concert hall of the Aga Khan Museum. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Visitors to the Aga Khan Museum’s Door Open receive a briefing on a unique lapiz-lazuli artwork created by the Late Pakistani artist Gulgee. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A young boy ponders his future involvement with the Aga Khan Museum as he views the Donor Wall during his visit to the museum on the weekend of May 25-26, 2019. Photo: Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A newly married couple have their photo taken at the Aga Khan Museum’s main entrance wall, while their friends (below) enjoy their free time in the atrium area inside the museum. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A beautiful photo of friends of the married couple (see previous photo) in the atrium section of the Aga Khan Museum taken during the Doors Open event on May 25-26, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

The Aga Khan Museum’s gift shop was busy on both days of the Doors Open event on May 25-26, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

The Aga Khan Museum’s renowned Diwan restaurant set up a stall in the museum’s atrium area to serve visitors with corn on the cob and shawarmas during the Doors Open event on May 25-26, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A group of musicans performs at the Door Open event at the Aga Khan Museum on May 25-26, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A view of  the Aga Khan Museum’s permanent collection from the upper floor which is currently hosting a special exhibition entitled “The Moon: A Voyage Through Time” that runs until August 18, 2019. Visitors on both floors were in awe of this spectacular 5 metre wide sculpture of the moon during their visit to the Museum on May 25-26, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A young boy touches the glass top of a case holding an actual moon rock during his visit to the Moon exhibition at the Aga Khan Museum on the weekend of May 25-26, 2019. Photo: Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A verse from the Qur’an stands out prominently at the moon exhibition which runs at the Aga Khan Museum until August 18, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A young boy concentrates on an activity at the Aga Khan Museum’s special moon exhibition which runs until August 18, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Youth participate in a fun activity during their visit to the Aga Khan Museum’s special moon exhibit which runs until August 18, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Visitors take a shot at creating poetry related to the subject of the moon during their visit to the special moon exhibit at the Aga Khan Museum. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Some poetic compositions about the moon. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

An exhibit of an alam (or standard) in the Aga Khan Museum’s permanent gallery draws keen interest from a visitor during the museum’s Doors Open event on May 25-26, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Visitors at the Aga Khan Museum’s Door Open on May 25-26 view Qur’anic manuscripts and other Islamic objects in front of a lighted map showing various Islamic dynasties that ruled in the past. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Children visitors to the Aga Khan Museum’s Door Open event on May 25-26, 2019 are seen participating in activities held in the museum’s education unit. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A young boy escapes from his parents to listen to a piano performance in the Aga Khan Museum’s courtyard. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

EM and Simba Grill prepare their respective stands for the Aga Khan Museum’s Doors Open event on May 25-26, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Visitors get a guided tour of the Aga Khan Park during the Doors Open event on May 25-26, 2019. The Ismaili Centre with its Jamatkhana dome forms the backdrop. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A cyclist rides through the Aga Khan Park during the Doors Open event on May 25-26, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A sister and her brother have fun with water at one of  the 5 ponds at the Aga Khan Park during their visit to the Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili Centre at Doors Open held on May 25-26, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

An aspiring art historian cherishes a beautiful moment at the Aga Khan Park during her visit to the Doors Open event at Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili Centre on May 25-26, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

A volunteer working from a stand at the Aga Khan Park takes time to explain the forthcoming World Partnership Walk which is organized by the Aga Khan Foundation Canada to raise awareness and funds to alleviate global poverty. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Visitors cross the Aga Khan Park to make their way either to the Aga Khan Museum (background) or the Ismaili Centre (not shown) during the Doors Open event on May 25-26, 2019. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Visitors to the Doors Open held on May 25-26, 2019 are drawn to a bed of tulips. The Ismaili Centre Jamatkahan dome is in the background. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Two small groups are briefed before their entry into the Ismaili Centre during the Doors Open event on May 25-26, 2018, while another group of people are lined up for their turn.  Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Doors Open visitors to the Ismaili Centre get a brief explanation of a work of calligraphy depicting the word Allah. Photo: © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Doors Open visitors to the Ismaili Centre view a beautiful work of art, one of several created for the Ismaili Centre Toronto, by the Late German artist Karl Schlamminger. © Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Doors Open visitors to the Ismaili Centre are introduced to a beautiful hand etched wall crafted over a period of 14 months by a father and son master artisan team from Tajikistan. Hanging from the ceiling are lamps styled from 11th century Fatimid Egypt.© Simergphotos/Malik Merchant.

Date posted: May 27, 2019.

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