The Musée d’Art et de Culture Soufis MTO (MACS MTO), set to open on September 28, 2024, in Chatou, a suburb of Paris, marks a significant milestone as the first museum globally dedicated to exploring the rich and profound art and culture of Sufism. This institution will offer visitors a deep dive into Sufi traditions, showcasing a permanent collection that spans centuries, along with a dynamic program of contemporary art exhibitions, talks, events, and workshops.
Situated in a meticulously renovated 19th-century mansion along the banks of the Seine, facing the historic Île des Impressionnistes, MACS MTO will provide 600 square meters of exhibition space across three floors. The museum will also feature a serene Sufi garden and an archival research library. The museum’s collection primarily consists of works from the 19th century to the present, with the oldest items dating back to the Achaemenid Persian Empire (550–330 BCE).
A Unique Collection of Sufi Art and Cultural Objects
The museum’s collection includes an array of Sufi art forms, such as sculpture, site-specific installations, music, textiles, calligraphy, manuscripts, and ceramic and mirror mosaics, many of which carry deep symbolic significance in Sufism. A highlight of the collection is a monumental granite kashkul sculpture (1974–76), designed by Hazrat Shah Maghsoud Sadegh Angha, the 41st Master of the MTO Shahmaghsoudi School of Islamic Sufism. This piece reflects the spiritual journey of Sufis, symbolizing purification and enlightenment.
The museum’s mission is to establish a dialogue between the principles of Sufism and contemporary art and culture. Its inaugural exhibition will feature works by seven international contemporary artists, each selected for their connections to Sufi values and spiritual thought. These artists include Bianca Bondi, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Seffa Klein, Troy Makaza, Chloé Quenum, Younes Rahmoun, and Pinaree Sanpitak. Many of these artists have created new works specifically for the museum, responding to the existing collection and the spiritual resonance of Sufism.
Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, one of Iran’s most respected artists, will be represented through her seminal mirror-mosaic works, influenced by the architecture of the Shah Cheragh mosque in Shiraz and Sufi scholar Annemarie Schimmel. Younes Rahmoun’s works, deeply rooted in Sufism, Zen Buddhism, and meditation, will reflect his use of color, form, and spiritual concepts. Pinaree Sanpitak will explore themes of femininity, motherhood, and spirituality, drawing inspiration from Pakistan’s malangs (Sufi seekers) and the museum’s collection of kashkul sculptures.
Creating a Space for Contemplation and Dialogue
The museum will also offer a Sufi garden, considered within Sufism as an earthly paradise, providing a tranquil and meditative space for visitors. The garden will feature symbolic flora typical of Sufi gardens, such as cypresses, fruit trees, roses, and jasmines, along with plants commonly found in French gardens.
Alexandra Baudelot, Director of MACS MTO, emphasized the museum’s role in fostering dialogue between diverse audiences and artists. “The Museum creates space for dialogue between audiences and artists, for people of all faiths and none. Through the growth of our collection, diverse programs, and collaborations with contemporary artists and multidisciplinary thinkers, we look forward to developing a wider understanding and engagement with the rich cultural expressions of Sufism through discovery, culture, and scientific research,” Baudelot said.
Architectural and Design Excellence
The renovation of the museum, led by the acclaimed French scenographers Atelier Maciej Fiszer and architects Ducatillion Gimel, has transformed the building into an accessible and environmentally sustainable cultural space while preserving its historical features. The museum’s design includes original wall and ceiling cornices, mosaic tiling, a Neoclassical pediment, and the ultramarine blue facade, maintaining the building’s historical integrity while infusing it with modern functionality.
MACS MTO is supported by the philanthropic organizations American Friends of Sufi Arts, Culture and Knowledge™ (AFSACK®) and Canadian Friends of Sufi Arts, Culture and Knowledge™ (CFSACK®). The establishment of the museum was initiated by the Maktab Tarighat Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi – School of Islamic Sufism, an international non-profit organization dedicated to teaching the principles of love, unity, and harmony inherent in Sufism.
Musée d’Art et de Culture Soufis MTO 6 Avenue des Tilleuls | 78400 Chatou | France https://www.macsmto.fr/
