“50 years of Migration” is a travelling exhibition of community storytelling, celebrating diverse participant stories of migration from the Ismaili Muslim diaspora in Canada ——— presented by artist Aquil Virani in collaboration with the Aga Khan Council for Canada with a debut at the Aga Khan Museum.
Combining text, archival photographs, visual artwork and audio-based interviews, the project marks the 50th anniversary of the 1972 “Ugandan Asian expulsion” by Idi Amin.
Read a Q&A with artist Aquil Virani, published by the Aga Khan Museum, with insight into the origin and creative process of the exhibition development by clicking here. You can view the exhibition panels in PDF format by clicking here (ou en français ici). View the “50 Years of Resilience” catalogue in PDF format here).
The cross-Canada tour of the exhibition started at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, moving across the country to different institutional spaces and “jamatkhanas” (community spaces) over the course of several months.
”50 Years of Migration” exhibition at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto.
”50 Years of Migration” exhibition at Headquarters Jamatkhana in Vancouver.
The Vancouver Art Gallery hosted a discussion in collaboration with the Ismaili Council for BC centred around stories of migration, moderated by Sirish Rao, Director of Public Engagement and Learning from the Vancouver Art Gallery, Senator Mobina Jaffer and Arran Stephens of Natures Path.
”50 Years of Migration” exhibition at a jamatkhana in Toronto.
Speaking to the crowd at Toronto’s ”50 Years of Migration” exhibition launch.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh addresses the crowd at an exhibition event in BC, a special reception hosted by the Ismaili Council for British Columbia and the Immigrant Services Society of BC.
Introductory panels at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto.
Some of the 40 community storytelling panels in the exhibition.
Volunteers and visitors converse while referencing the panels.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown visiting the ”50 Years of Migration” exhibition at Brampton Jamatkhana.
Several provincial MPP’s representing Ontario tour the ”50 Years of Migration” exhibition at Brampton Jamatkhana.
Local Ismailis enjoy the ”50 Years of Migration” exhibition at Brampton Jamatkhana.
An Ismaili child engages with the “kid’s panels” at Brampton Jamatkhana.
A Seniors’ event at the ”50 Years of Migration” exhibition at Kitchener Jamatkhana.
Visitors answer the question “What dreams do you have for our community in another 50 years?” at Kitchener Jamatkhana.
Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe, MP Mike Morrice, MP Tim Louis, Karen Redman, Chair of Waterloo Region, and Dr. Nurjehan Mawani (featured in the exhibition) visit the ’50 Years of Migration’ exhibition at Kitchener Jamatkhana. Photo credit: Nooruddin Panjwani.