Muqarnas: Form and Light
Exhibition
September 14, 2024–mid-September, 2025
Aga Khan Park
Experience the intricate splendour and stunning diversity of muqarnas in Islamic architecture through a selection of photographs by Toronto-based artist Glenn McArthur.
Muqarnas: Form and Light will continue on display in the Aga Khan Park as part of the 2025 CONTACT Photography Festival.
Visual Splendour
From Spain to Central Asia, uncover the complex elegance of muqarnas — intricate, three-dimensional surfaces found inside domes and above portals. These multi-cell surfaces, crafted in materials ranging from wood to mirrored glass, create an elegant transition between the square base of a building and its rounded ceiling, casting a mesmerizing play of light and shadow reminiscent of the heavens.
Çoban Mustafa Paşa Complex, Gebze, Türkiye © Glenn McArthur
Cappella Palatina, Palermo, Sicily (Italy). © Glenn McArthur
Echoes of History
Stroll through the Aga Khan Park and follow Toronto-based photographer and art educator Glenn McArthur’s journey through striking images capturing the beauty and diversity of muqarnas in eight countries. The exhibition, highlighting the magnificence of this unique architectural form, offers a unique glimpse into examples of muqarnas vaults from the 11th century to the contemporary age.
With my photographic study of muqarnas, I hope to capture the artistic threads that weave through different eras and cultures…while celebrating the beauty of this distinctive Islamic architectural feature and the craftsmanship of its architects, designers, and artisans.”
– Glenn McArthur
Preserving the Past
While a number of the earliest examples of muqarnas remain intact, many others have been damaged or destroyed amid conflict. The Museum has partnered with the Aga Khan Documentation Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to include archival images of early, now-lost muqarnas structures as part of this display — honouring and preserving the memory of these architectural masterpieces.
About the Artist
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Glenn McArthur
Curator
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Dr. Michael Chagnon
Government Partners
