Mahrukh Tarapor

Mahrukh Tarapor is an Indian museum professional and art consultant,[1] known for her scholarship in museum art, especially Islamic art.[2] She was honoured by the Government of India, in 2013, by bestowing on her the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for her contributions to the field of art.[3]

Mahrukh Tarapor
Born1946
Mumbai, India
OccupationArt consultant
AwardsPadma Shri

Biography
Mahrukh Tarapor is one of the most widely respected museum professionals in the world, says Philippe de Montebello, former Metropolitan Museum of Art director, and talks about her diplomatic skills, knowledge and energy.[1]
St. Catherine's Monastery
Museo del Prado, Madrid
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston – Watkin building

Mahrukh Tarapor was born in Mumbai to a Parsi family, in 1946.[1] She secured a doctorate from Harvard University and started her career by joining Metropolitan Museum, New York, in 1983. She, over the course of a decade, rose through ranks to reach the level of the Associate Director for Exhibitions.[4] During her stint at the Met Museum, she negotiated with the governments of Spain, Morocco and Egypt which led to the exhibition of Al-Andalus: The Art of Islamic Spain, staged in Alhambra in Granada, the conservation of the Minbar from the Kutubiyya Mosque[5] at the Badi Palace, Marrakesh[4] and the setting up of exhibition galleries at the Saint Catherine's Monastery, Sinai.[4][6] She is also credited with efforts to raise loans for many intercultural exhibitions such as the Glory of Byzantium (1997), Byzantium: Faith and Power(2004), Art of the First Cities (2003) and Beyond Babylon (2009).[1][6]

Tarapor was promoted as the Director, International Affairs, at the Met's international affairs office at Geneva, in 2006, and worked in that capacity till 2009, when she retired after 25 years of service to continue her career as a consultant.[7] During this period, she was in regular touch with the governments of many European countries, the Middle East, Australia and Asia, for the exchange and dissemination of information.[1] Mahrukh Tarapor has also contributed to the organization of several international art exhibitions such as:

  • Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids[4][6]
  • Art of the First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus[8]
  • China: Dawn of a Golden Age, 200–750 A.D.[4][6]
  • The Crown of Bohemia 1347–1437, Prague[4][6]
  • Trade and Diplomacy of the Second Millennium BC (2008)[4][6]
  • Art of Medieval Spain[9]

After retiring from Met Museum, she was offered the post as the Head of the National Museum of India, an offer she, reportedly, declined, opting for a career as a consultant.[10] In 2012, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, hired the consultative services of Dr. Tarapor, in the areas of exchange of art, staff and scholarly study.[2] She is also attending to the expansion of Islamic Arts programmes of MFAH as also in procuring loans for various MFAH exhibitions, utilizing her connections.[2][11]

Tarapor lives in Mumbai and Geneva, attending to her duties as a consultant for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museo del Prado and her assignments as a consultant to the Government of India.[1]

Positions

Mahrukh Tarapor has served in many positions of importance. Apart from her career postings as the associate Director of Exhibitions and the Director of International Affairs with the Metropolitan Museum, New York, she has also held the posts of:

  • Member – International advisory board of the Sakip Sabanci Museum, Istanbul.[4]
  • Member – Board of directors of the American Associates of the Saint Catherine Foundation.[4]
  • Former member (1992–2009) – Bizot Group, a congregation of the directors of some of the leading museums in the world.[4]
  • Jury Member – Rolex Awards for Enterprise – 2012[1]
  • Senior Advisor for International Initiatives – Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
  • Board Member – The Silk Road Project Inc[12]
  • Board Member – Saint Catherine Foundation[13]
  • Member – Museum Reforms Committee – Government of India[14]

Awards and recognitions

Mahrukh Tarapor has been honoured by many governments such as France, Morocco and Spain.[4] In 2013, the Government of India honoured her with the fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri.[3]

Publications

Tarapor has published two works on Islamic and Indian arts.[15][16]

  • Tarapor, Mahrukh. Islamic calligraphy. Asia Society. OCLC 6602824.
  • Tarapor, Mahrukh. Art and empire the discovery of India in art and literature, 1851–1947. Keki. OCLC 14920523.

See also

References
  1. "Rolex Awards". Rolex Awards. 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  2. "Chron". Chron. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  3. "Padma 2013". The Hindu. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  4. "Art Daily". Art Daily. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  5. "Minbar". Met Museum. 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  6. "Met Museum". Met Museum. 22 March 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  7. "Bloomberg". Bloomberg. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  8. "First Cities". The New Yorker. 5 May 2003. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  9. Metropolitan Museum of Art (1993). The Art of Medieval Spain, A.D. 500–1200. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 358. ISBN 9780810964334.
  10. "National Museum of India". Indian Express. 5 September 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  11. "Tinterow". Tinterow. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  12. "Silk Road Project". Silk Road Project. 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  13. "St Catherine Foundation". St Catherine Foundation. 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  14. Shailaja Tripathi (3 February 2011). "Museum Reforms Committee". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  15. Tarapor, Mahrukh. Islamic calligraphy. Asia Society. OCLC 6602824.
  16. Tarapor, Mahrukh. Art and empire the discovery of India in art and literature, 1851–1947. Keki. OCLC 14920523.

Further reading
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