What’s in an Artefact?

– Investigating The Power of Objects to Convey and Create Meaning

Learning Outcomes: After this session, the students will have gained an awareness of and ability
to contemplate the deeper meaning of objects and their deliberate assemblage to create
meaning and potential for artistic storytelling through the still life genre.

1. An Introduction to the Aga Khan Museum – 10 mins

The session will start with an introduction to the Museum itself as a concept and as an artwork
in its own right. The ‘Museum’ is not an exclusively ‘Western’ concept - world cultures through
time and space have all collected what is meaningful to them and have found places to house
and display those collections. This instinct starts in our own homes, our own rooms, where
every object among our personal belongings has meaning, holds memories, and tells stories
that speak of who we are, what we believe in, where we belong, what we aspire to, and indeed
what we think is beautiful.
 
For a still life painting, too, you need to collect and assemble objects. Artists over centuries
have gathered and combined natural or man-made objects that individually and in sum often
have deeper significance to them – be it aesthetic and formalistic or symbolic and religious. The
ultimate, highly personal choice and assemblage of objects creates a unique artistic
composition that in turn may carry important messages and symbolism.

2. Virtual Gallery Tour – 40 mins

On our virtual tour through the Museum, we will investigate four artefacts across the spectrum
of Muslim civilizations which are ‘ still life compositions’ in their own right, and which
demonstrate how natural and manmade objects and symbols were brought together in non-
western artefacts to tell stories of faith, identity, place, belonging, and beauty.

a. Damascus Tile Panel, Syria, 16th century

https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/collection/artifact/mihrab-panel-akm585

b. Iznik Plate, Ottoman Turkey, 16th century

https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/collection/artifact/dish-akm687

c. Door, Iran, Northern Mazanderan, 1487-88

https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/collection/artifact/doors-akm707

d. Calligraphic Folio, Iran, mid 16th century

https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/collection/artifact/folio-from-an-album-akm327
 3. Q&A – Tour Debrief – 10 mins

4. Break – 5 mins

5. Breakout Sessions and Discussion 50 mins (Reflection Time 20 mins; Presentation Time
30 mins, 10 mins each group).

Gathering in three breakout groups, students will be invited to revisit the Permanent Gallery
and/or consult the online collection to select three objects of personal significance to them for
an imaginary still life composition around a topic of their choice (e.g. identity, beauty,
spirituality, the environment etc.).

6. Wrap-Up and Close – 5 mins