• THE ARTS
Building Bridges with Art An interview with Professor Nasser David Khalili, art collector and philanthropist Professor Nasser David Khalili is not just any art collector. The Jewish-born Iranian, who began his career while studying at Queens College in New York, now has the largest and most extensive private Islamic art collection in the world. As someone deeply concerned with intercultural and interfaith understanding, Professor Khalili approaches his collections as not only works of art, but also paths to promote positive dialogue between people of different faiths and cultures. In this interview, Professor Khalili speaks to The Majalla about art, spirituality, dialogue and history. Images © Khalily Family Trust
Amy Assad
Professor Nasser David Khalili's descriptions are peppered with visual imagery and metaphor. His colorful narrative and charismatic personality are helpful in promoting a project such as the Maimonides Foundation, an organization that works to encourage positive dialogue between the three monotheistic faiths of the Middle East. Professor Khalili, a scholar, property developer, art collector and philanthropist currently lives in the UK but was born to a Jewish family in Isfahan, Iran, in 1945, and grew up in Tehran. After completing his national service working as an army medic in a small village, he left for America in 1967 to study computer science. It was here, while studying at Queens College that Khalili began buying and selling art works. Today, his collection of Islamic art is the largest and most extensive private collection in the world. Khalili hopes to promote intercultural and interfaith understanding through art, on the basis that appreciating the art of a culture helps us to appreciate the culture itself. Khalili considers himself a “temporary custodian” of his works. As well as mounting his own exhibitions, he loans generously to museums around the world. He is adamant that anywhere the collection is exhibited it should be available to the largest possible audience. Khalili’s team of art experts at The Nour Foundation researches the artifacts continuously. Such dedication towards gaining an academic understanding of his acquisitions has brought them a scholarly value unmatched by those of other collectors. In 1989, Khalili founded the Nasser D. Khalili Chair of Islamic Art at SOAS, where he is also an associate research professor of the school and member of the school's governing body. In 1995, Khalili established The Maimonides Foundation, which, through schools, football, international visits, academic projects and art visits, aims to improve relations between Jews, Christians and Muslims. Khalili also created The House of Peace in 1998, which will display an exhibition highlighting five paintings, accompanied by photographs and film. This body of work has been commissioned for its unique representation of peace. Eventually the exhibition will travel around the world, but initially it will be shown in London during the Olympics in 2012. Khalili has been granted a number of honorary academic accolades, including an honorary fellowship at the University 56
TM1564_56-59_The Arts.indd 56
20/06/2011 17:00