Magic Squares

The Patterned Imagination of Muslim Africa in Contemporary Culture

Textile Museum of Canada, Toronto

May 18, 2011 - Nov 20, 2011

Four contemporary artists explore the relationship of patterns, communication and spirit in conversation with textiles and symbols from the Museum’s permanent collection of Islamic African artifacts. Magic squares, known all over the world as mathematical games like Sudoku and Kenken, become carriers of powerful and diverse cultural meanings when they are painted, woven or embroidered on textiles in Muslim Africa.

Join artists Jamelie Hasssan, Tim Whiten, Alia Toor and Hamid Kachmar for a discussion of the intersections between their work and the richly diverse patterned imagination of Muslim Africa. Co-produced with Subtle Technologies and the Institute for Ismaili Studies.

http://www.textilemuseum.ca/apps/index.cfm?page=exhibition.detail&exhId=323