Art can play a profound role in opening our eyes, minds, and hearts to the world, and to understanding ourselves and those around us. This is also the reason that artists have often been a key part of cultural and educational exchanges between countries, enabling the sharing of ideas across border. This episode's guest is Dr. Navina Haidar, Chief Curator for Islamic art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Navina was the coordinating curator of the highly anticipated re-imagining of the New Islamic Galleries project at the Met, which came to fruition with the 2011 and which the New York Times described as "...intelligent as it is visually resplendent." She is also the author of six books Indian and Islamic art. In today's conversation, Navina shares her educational and professional journey; how curating and showcasing the arts of the Islamic world has helped build bridges and helped foster an understanding of other cultures, especially during times like 9/11 and other periods in recent history when there has been a backlash against the Muslim community; and how during these difficult times art can both heal and educate.
Episode Themes:
Navina’s journey from a young student in India to becoming chief curator for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s legendary Islamic art collection, and the role of education in her family.
How studying and living abroad deepened shaped Navina’s career as an art historian.
The challenges and opportunities in interpreting and curating Islamic art from around the world for a largely American audience.
The role of art in building bridges in a post-9/11 world, and during other such episodes of xenophobia. The impact of the re-imagined and new Islamic art galleries at the Met.
Can art help address social problems and create social change?
Navina’s current curatorial projects and upcoming exhibits.
Episode Resources:
Vogue article about Navina and the new Islamic art galleries at the Met.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art article: Met Curator Navina Haidar on the 10th Anniversary of the New Islamic Galleries
As If A Girl Matters virtual museum
My book: America Calling: A Foreign Student in a Country of Possibility
Sign up for America Calling: my take on the intersection of education, culture and migration
