At the end of January, nineteen u3a members enjoyed a tour of the Aga Khan Centre near Kings Cross.

The Aga Khan Centre is a place of education, knowledge, cultural exchange and insight into Muslim civilisations. The building is the UK home for three organisations founded by His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, the hereditary spiritual leader of the Shi‘a Ismaili Muslims.

On entering the building there is an overwhelming sense of tranquillity. Somehow the architect has managed to make an all-white palette seem soft and gentle rather than stark. Even the somewhat industrial sculpture ‘Rhapsody in Four Colours’ a three-dimensional sculpture that rises nine-storeys high and is constructed from aluminium struts seems totally at home as it presides over the central atrium. Throughout the building and gardens, an eight-pointed star motif repeats.

There are six small terrace and roof gardens, each reflecting influences from different Muslim cultures around the world. With small fountains, rills, considered planting and glorious views over London these really are small oases of calm.

The artwork that adorns the walls is, as would be expected, all influenced by Muslim heritage and culture.

We ended our tour in the Centre’s Gallery. This is a public space) and is home to a changing programme of exhibitions and events that aim to create a better understanding of Islam and Muslim cultures, past and present. The current exhibition is titled Canticle of the Birds and is a mixed-media exhibition, exploring themes of spiritual journey, transformation, and interconnectedness. Exhibits ranged from drawings of garden song-birds by local school children, decoupage, jewellery, ceramics and perhaps the most admired piece (well by our group at least) “Whispers”. This is a graceful depiction of doves amidst foliage, crafted from an array of dried flowers, grasses and seedheads including feathergrass, statice, limonium and flax by Yorkshire artist Olga Prinku.
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