The gallery of Prince Hussain's photographs, especially selected and curated for this exhibition, are part of his collection of works which he has made available to Focused on Nature (http://focusedonnature.org), an organisation he founded to assist in the conservation and protection of threatened and endangered species.. The photographs provide a glimpse of the rich diversity of animal life and the natural world, over which humans have stewardship. Through his creative eye and self-taught photographic skills, Prince Hussain portrays what he calls “Life's Tiles - small pieces of life or little building blocks, recorded over several years.”
The exhibition was launched together with a series of others at the Diamond Jubilee Celebration, including Rays of Light, Ethics in Action, and the Aga Khan Museum Pop-Up Experience.
The guided tour of Rays of Light: Glimpses into the Ismaili Imamat takes viewers on a journey through Mawlana Hazar Imam’s commitment through the past 60 years to uphold the Ismaili Imamat’s mandate of improving the human condition. Rays of Light debuted in December 2008 during Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Golden Jubilee, and its unique layout offers visitors a multi-sensory experience of 250 photographs, evocative music, and multimedia presentations. These include childhood photographs of Mawlana Hazar Imam and Prince Amyn, video clips of Hazar Imam inaugurating key projects, and media products chronicling historical moments of his Imamat. Ten years on, the relaunched exhibition includes technological enhancements to provide more extensive insights into the scope and scale of the work undertaken by Mawlana Hazar Imam.
The Ethics in Action exhibition aims to engage and enlighten visitors through a thoughtful and immersive experience, and illustrates how the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) incorporates key ethics while making impact around the world.
The exhibit has journeyed to numerous cities and countries across the globe during the Diamond Jubilee year. Grounded in the Ismaili traditions of service, care, and compassion, Ethics in Action expresses the notion of AKDN protecting and sheltering the communities it serves, symbolized by the digitally-fabricated canopy that services as a connective tissue under which a selection of artwork and handicrafts are displayed. Guests at the exhibition will be able to learn about and interact with the intricate embroidery, glittering gemstones, and bright fabrics on display. The exhibition is accompanied by an app, called Ethics in Action, that allows visitors to explore projects and ethics further, using a smartphone. Visitors are encouraged to download the app prior to visiting the exhibit to make the most of their experience.
The Aga Khan Museum Pop-up Experience will allow visitors to learn more about work of the Aga Khan Museum in education, exhibitions, and the performing arts. This will be illustrated via a virtual reality tour of the Fatimids Exhibition, recorded performances of dance, music, spoken word poetry, and a recorded lecture series.
All four exhibitions will be on display in the Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) from 5-10 July, opening each day at 10 AM and closing at 11 PM. Rays of Light requires a reservation, which can be booked at http://jubilee.blueticket.pt.
