Our top international exhibitions this week: Istanbul’s ever-changing moods

Plus: ancient Indian textiles and a look at the afterlife in Egypt.

Galata Bridge in 1912, in a photo taken by Sébah & Joaillier. Courtesy Ömer M. Koç

A look at the afterlife in ancient Egypt

This exhibition in the UK goes beyond the traditional themes of mummies and pharaohs to examine how coffin design developed over 4,000 years in ancient Egypt. It looks at how different designs reflected the status of the people who died and sheds light on the gods who were important to them. The show also looks at how the coffins were constructed and examines the lives of the craftsmen who built them. There will be an area where visitors can find out about the conservation of the objects. Death on the Nile: Uncovering the Afterlife of Ancient Egypt runs at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge from February 23 to May 22. For more information visit www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

India’s history told through a silk textile

The Vrindavani Vastra (cloth of Vrindavan) was made in Assam in northeastern India in the 17th century. It is made of silk and features scenes from the life of the Hindu god Krishna. At more than 9 metres long and made of 12 strips sewn together, the textile is an example of weaving methods now extinct in India. It was found in Tibet by British journalist Perceval Landon, who was part of an expedition sent by British India to the country. He gave it to the British Museum and in this exhibition it is placed alongside other artefacts from the region by Krishna devotees. Krishna in the Garden of Assam runs at the British Museum until August 15. For more information visit www.britishmuseum.org

A lens on the ever-changing moods of Istanbul

From Byzantium to Constantinople and now Istanbul, the Turkish city has witnessed the rise and fall of many empires, while remaining a cultural hub. This exhibition looks at photographic depictions of the city from the Ottoman era to new digital works by Murat Germen. Images from the noted Turkish collector Ömer Koç are on display, with about 70 photographs, albums and panoramas from his collection. The show takes place in Canada's Aga Khan Museum, founded in 2014 to showcase the glories of Muslim civilisation. A City Transformed: Images of Istanbul Then and Now runs in Toronto until June 26. For more information visit www.agakhanmuseum.org