Conversations
Art and Ornament

Mughal Empire, 18th - 19th century CE, gold shield with ring of inlaid turquoise gems.

Date

Sunday, Mar 1, 2026 11:00

Registration Opens

Wednesday, Dec 17, 2025 10:00

Admission

Conversations - Public: $40.00 Conversations - Member: $36.00

Audience

Adults

About

What is “ornament”? How is it different from “art”? In this 2-hour Conversation program, we will think carefully about the hierarchy of art and the place of ornament in Western art both historically and today. Drawing inspiration from South Asia objects at ROM including miniature painting and textiles, we will examine how ornamentation was utilized across history and geography and discuss its varied meanings.  Participants will also be guided through drawing exercises that will deconstruct a few designs. These activities are accessible to all and designed to spark curiosity about how designs evolve and function. Throughout the session, we will share insights and build new understandings together.  

Speaker

Farrukh Rafiq headshot
Farrukh Rafiq

Farrukh Rafiq is the Coordinator, South Asia Community Engagement at ROM where he has been developing and delivering workshops inspired by the South Asia collections. He is an art historian and educator with a doctorate in Art History from Queen’s University. His teaching methodology centers on amalgamating a multitude of interdisciplinary lenses to provide learners with a varied and comprehensive approach to both historical and contemporary art. Farrukh has also taught visual and digital arts courses at various art galleries and museums in the Greater Toronto Area, and has taught art history courses at the University of Toronto, Carleton University, and Concordia University.