20 Top Exhibitions in 2012

Treasures of the Aga Khan Museum: Architecture in Islamic Arts

'Treasures of the Aga Khan Museum: Architecture in Islamic Arts,' a travelling exhibition of objects and art from the Aga Khan Museum collection, which has been touring renowned museums in key European cities, was exhibited at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.

"Salm and Tūr Receive the Reply of Farīdūn and Manūchihr" / Folio 53v; manuscript of the Shāhnāma of Firdawsī created for Shāh Tahmāsp Tabriz, Iran; c. 1522-1535 AD; Opaque watercolour, ink, gold and silver on paper; AKM 495 / © Aga Khan Trust for Culture

Akbar. The Great Emperor of India

The Fondazione Roma presents an exhibition devoted to the Emperor of India, Akbar (Umarkot, 1542 – Agra, 1605) one of the greatest sovereigns in history. This exhibition has never been held before in Italy and, due to the number of works and historical completeness, is unique in the world since it covers the Emperorʼs entire reign. The last exhibition on this theme was held in New York by the Asia Society in 1984-86, showing around eighty works relating to 1571-1585.

Unattributed, but composition probably by Basawan Akbarʼs adventure with the elephant Hawaʼi, Folio from the Akbarnama (Book of Akbar), c. 1590-1595, Ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, 37,5 x 23,4 cm / Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Worlds within Worlds: Imperial Paintings from India and Iran

The exhibition “Worlds within Worlds: Imperial Paintings from India and Iran” was a highlight of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery’s 25th anniversary celebration in 2012 (July 28 - Sep 17, 2012). The exhibition brought 50 of the finest folios and paintings from the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery collections, which together form one of the world’s most important repositories of Mughal and Persian painting.

'A School Scene' by Mir Sayyid Ali / Iran, Tabriz, ca. 1540, Opaque watercolor, and gold on paper / Purchase, Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, S1986.221 / Image: Courtesy of Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Museum of Islamic Art Inaugurates the Islamic Glass Exhibitions

The Museum of Islamic Art, MIA, opened its double exhibition on glass of the Islamic world. The exhibitions featured over one hundred pieces of glass from the museum collection, most of which were never on show before, as well as some contributions from a number of collections belonging to Qatar Museum Authority.

Mamluk Revival Lamp / Made by Philippe-Joseph Brocard, France (Paris), c. 1870 – 1880, Blown colourless glass with applied loops, enameled and gilded decoration, Museum of Islamic Art, GL.153 / Courtesy of Museum of Islamic Art (MIA)

‘Hajj - Reflexions’, the Photo Exhibition by Five Authors in Sarajevo

The Photo Exhibition 'Hajj - Reflexions' by Didier and Džemila Torche, Samir and Amela Jordamović and Jakub Salkić was at the Art Gallery of BiH, in the presence of a numerous officials and visitors.

Photo by Didier Torche, The Holy Mosque in Medina / Image by Islamic Arts Magazine

Collision, a solo exhibition by Moataz Nasr

Lawrie Shabibi presented 'Collision,' a solo exhibition by Moataz Nasr, in collaboration with Galleria Continua, San Gimignano / Beijing / Le Moulin.

'Lights over Shadow' by Moataz Nasr / 2012, animal skin, 86x86 cm / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

Photography exhibition ‘Khaled Akil: The Unmentioned’ at London’s Lahd Gallery

Lahd Gallery, London’s gallery for contemporary Middle Eastern and North African art, hosted the exhibition exploring the social, political and religious issues facing Syria.

'Untitled 10' by Khaled Akil / Mixed media and photography, 120 x 80 cm / Image Courtesy of the Lahd Gallery

The 4th Exhibition by Iranian Artist Saeed Rezai in Sarajevo

Saeed Rezai, an Iranian artist, presented his work to Sarajevo public for the 4th time. At the exhibition that opened at Gallery Preporod we could see Islamic calligraphy carved in the wood and combined with glass, mirror, metal and canvas.

"La illahe illallah" by Saeed Rezai / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

Women On the Verge

Fourteen sharp, courageous, talented, passionate and inspirational women photographers from the Middle East take center stage in 'Women on the Verge', an expansive group show held concurrent with Art Dubai and Art Week. The exhibition was at The Empty Quarter.

'Nation Estate - Jerusalem Floor' by Larissa Sansour / © The Artist & Courtesy of The Empty Quarter Gallery

‘Fun w/Fen’ - Mohamed Kanoo’s Recent Work At The Meem Gallery

Meem Gallery presented Mohamed Kanoo’s second solo exhibition at the gallery, displaying his recent work. 'Fun w/Fen' presents the artist’s humorous interpretation of topical issues including religion, culture, politics and popular culture.

A Question of Identity (2012) by Mohamed Kanoo / A series of postcard sized digital portraits of contemporary and historical figures / Courtesy of the Meem Gallery

Extended Space, The First Joint Exhibition by Hazem el Mestikawy and Jos Van der Beek

At AB Gallery in Zürich/Switzerland artists Hazem El Mestikawy and Jos van der Beek presented their new works.

'Alif-Beh' by Hazem El Mestikawy / 2006-2009, cardboard and paper, 60-parts, Installation, 200x30x22 cm / Courtesy of AB Gallery

New Perspectives in Contemporary Miniatures

Galerie Kashya Hildebrand felt compelled to extend their investigation of Iranian artists after the overwhelming success of their recent Iranian Calligraphy exhibition. In the exhibition 'New Perspectives in Contemporary Miniatures' another significant recent trend was being examined: the re-appropriation of miniature painting in the works by Amir Farhad, Babak Kazemi, Farah Ossouli and Soody Sharifi.

'Fashion Week' by Soody Sharifi / 150x100 cm, Edition of 3, Archival Inkjet Print, 2011 / Courtesy of Galerie Kashya Hildebrand

‘Learning by Heart’ by Libyan-Canadian artist Arwa Abouon

The Third Line showed Libyan-Canadian artist Arwa Abouon, with a new body of work that explores the artist’s own private journey in matters of spirituality, personal dynamics and human nature’s quest towards understanding faith.

'I'm Sorry / I Forgive You (Diptych)' by Arwa Abouon / Digital print and Graphically Ornamented frame / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

‘AbstractA’, an Exhibition of Paintings and Installations by Bosnian Artist Alija Hafizovic Haf

A retrospective exhibition 'AbstractA' by a Bosnian artist Alija Hafizović Haf at Collegium Artisticum celebrated the 45 years of Haf’s artistic work.

'Installation' by Alija Hafizovic Haf / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

'My Rock Stars: Volume 1' by Acclaimed Photographer Hassan Hajjaj

'My Rock Stars: Volume 1' payed homage to traditional African portraiture, while celebrating present-day pop stars, unsung artists and personal inspirations in Hajjaj’s life.

'Hindi Zahra' by Hassan Hajjaj / 2011, Metallic Lambda, Print on Dibond, 136x93 cm / Courtesy of The Third Line

‘Any Resemblance To Actual Persons, Living Or Dead, Is Purely Coincidental’ by Zoulikha Bouabdellah

Zoulikha Bouabdellah's new exhibition reflected on reality through the guise of fiction in an array of media. The show was named after the illuminated Broadway billboard work that welcomes the audience upon entry with the words 'Any Resemblance to Actual Persons, Living or Dead, is Purely Coincidental.

'Any Resemblance to Actual Persons, Living or Dead, Is Purely Coincidental' by Zoulikha Bouabdellah / Powder coating paint on aluminum light box, 11 multi color neon sections, 148x120x14 cm, ed. of 2 + 1 AP, 2012 / Photo by Islamic Arts Magazine

‘Survivals’, Contemporary Art Exhibition by Iranian Artists

The second contemporary art exhibition by Iranian artists, 'Survivals', curated by Mojgan Endjavi-Barbé was at Lʼespace Le Commun, Bâtiment d'Art Contemporain (BAC), in Geneva-Switzerland.

'Ghamar' by Amir Farhad / 120x90cm, ink silk print, 2011 / Courtesy of Mojgan Endjavi-Barbé and The Artist

‘Paraître’ a Solo Show by Tunisian Artist Nicènce Kossentini at Sabrina Amrani Art Gallery

In the exhibition ‘Paraître’ Nicene Kossentini examined contemporary Tunisian society after the revolution. The presented artworks presented the confusion and disorder of identity by juxtaposing opposing dualities with origin in the theme of religion, generations or culture and heritage. The show was composed of video installation, ink works, photographic installation and sound.

'Video still of Heaven or Hell' by Nicènce Kossentini, 2011. Video installation. 4:28 min. Variable dimensions. Ed. 1/3 / Courtesy of Sabrina Amrani Art Gallery

The Next Generation: Contemporary Iranian Calligraphy

Iranian art has entered a particularly significant period of transformation, driven by a thriving artistic community both inside and outside of Iran. Galerie Kashya Hildebrand presented six emerging contemporary artists (Aghighi Bakhshayeshi, Mohamad Bozorgi, Habib Faraj Abadi, Hadieh Shafie, Abolfazi Shai and Behrouz Zindashtiof) of Iranian origin who are pushing Iranian art in bold new directions.

'Traces 8' by Aghighi Bakhshayeshi / 150x150cm, oil and silver lea on canvas, 2012 / Courtesy of Galerie Kashya Hildebrand

World Press Photo 2012 Exhibition in Sarajevo

The exhibition World Press Photo Sarajevo, at the Art Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina, showed 169 winning images from the annual World Press Photo Contest.

Samuel Aranda / Spain, for New York Times, World Press Photo of the year 2011