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Muraqqa'
Imperial Mughal Albums from the Chester Beatty Library
25 June - 3 October 2010
Named by The Art Newspaper as one of the top ten Asian exhibitions worldwide for 2008 and back home after a four-venue tour of America, this is a stunning, not-to-be-missed exhibition of paintings from the land of the Taj Mahal. The Library holds one of the finest collections of Indian Mughal paintings in existence, and this exhibition is a rare opportunity to see many of the best of those works. The exhibition focuses on a group of six albums (muraqqa‘s) compiled in India between about 1600 and 1658 for the Mughal emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan (builder of the Taj Mahal). Each album folio originally consisted of a painting on one side and a panel of calligraphy on the other, all set within beautifully illuminated borders. Many of the paintings are exquisitely rendered portraits of emperors, princes and courtiers—all dressed in the finest textiles and jewels—but there are also images of court life, and of Sufis, saints, and animals. The exhibition is accompanied by a fully-illustrated, multiple award-winning catalogue.
Further information here.
Win a Dream Holiday to India
In association with 
To coincide with the Muraqqa' exhibition the Library and Indian Dreams are offering you the chance to win a fabulous holiday for two to India. The competition will run until 3 October 2010 and may be entered online or in person at the Library. For more details please click here.
A Sikh Face in Ireland: Photographic and Life History Project
7 May - 26 September 2010
Photographic and life history project, A Sikh Face in Ireland, will be on view at the Chester Beatty Library from 7 May - 26 September (now extended). This multimedia exhibition is produced and supported by
FOMACS (Forum on Migration and Communications) in collaboration with photographer/oral historian, Dr Glenn Jordan, and researcher, Satwinder Singh.
A Sikh Face in Ireland is the first systematic exploration of the Sikh presence on the island of Ireland - providing both a profile of the present and a social and cultural history of Sikh immigrants and their descendants. The key themes of the exhibition include issues of culture, experience and identity. The exhibition illustrates that 'being a Sikh' is not a homogeneous experience; that people from similar backgrounds may live their identities in different ways. The exhibition portrays men who do and do not wear turbans, further depicting generational and gender differences. More generally, it explores the lived experiences and narratives of people often perceived as 'Other' by members of the general public - especially since 9/11.
A series of parallel events designed in collaboration with the Chester Beatty Library’s Intercultural Education Programme builds on different objects in the exhibition: photographic portraits accompanied by life stories; a short film, 'How to Tie a Turban'; a photographic and sound installation featuring contemporary Sikh musicians; an exhibition catalogue comprising essays, photographs, and extensive life stories in English and Punjabi; an interactive website designed for use in diverse educational settings, in addition to public workshops.
The project has been defined - in the context of a conversation with members of the
Irish Sikh Council and
FOMACS - as a contribution to anti-racist education and transcultural understanding.
For more information, please contact: Maeve Burke or Ann Nolan,
info.fomacs@dit.ie tel: +353 (0)1 402 3006