Culture

Hidden among the bustling streets of South Mumbai and its sprawling skyline lies a haven of solace and peace: Hasanabad. Often described as ‘Mumbai’s Taj Mahal’, the monument is a mausoleum or dargah: the final resting place of Imam Hasan Ali Shah, the 46th Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. 

Art has often played a powerful role in shaping society’s consciousness, especially in times of crisis. Some of the most touching moments during the early days of the pandemic were people singing or playing music for their neighbours, drawing their communities out on balconies and rooftops to share the moment. Ismaili artists from various countries share their stories of how Covid-19 impacted them and how they adapted to the new normal.

Art historians and enthusiasts often recognize the 10th through 13th centuries as a period that marked an increase in the usage of symmetrical, geometric patterns in the Muslim world. Most likely aided by Muslim mathematicians, artists and artisans produced a large variety of designs. Many of these geometric models developed interpretations of ornament that embody metaphysical intent.

Amidst the magnificence of the Al-Hajar mountains, the lush fruit-scented plantations of Misfat Al Abriyeen, and the abandoned settlements of Harat al-Bilad, 15 young adults from the United Arab Emirates and the surrounding region participated in an international excursion to Muscat, Oman last year.

The second issue of AT HOME, a new digital magazine presenting the programmes and projects of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).