Islamic Art
Islamic art reflects the beliefs of
the religion of Islam, as well as the esthetic taste of Muslim culture.
Islamic scripture teaches that people must not worship images, but
only God, who has no physical body. Islamic tradition also holds that
artists should not make portraits of people, since that would imitate
God's powers of creation.
As a result, artistic talent has
concentrated on using abstract geometric designs. Calligraphy is also
an art form, using the written word as an object of beauty. Plant and
animal forms are permitted, and often combine with geometry in
interlaced patterns known as arabesque. |
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Closeup of a Mosque Wall
At the top you can see calligraphy, repeating "God the great
the merciful."
Below that is a tesselation of interlocking lines.
At the bottom is a geometric pattern of 8- and 16-pointed stars.
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Calligraphy as Art
On the left, the word "Allah" (God) has been embellished by intertwining the
letters. Words, rather than pictures, express the divine presence.
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Arabesque
This is a repeating plant pattern. It represents the beauty of earthly creation.
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Tesselation
This is a repeating and interlocking geometric pattern. It may be
a block design, as shown above left, or a linear repeat pattern, shown
below left. A tesselation reminds the viewer of infinity.
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Geometry
The basis for many patterns in Islamic art is the circle, inscribed
with triangles, squares, or hexagons. Notice that the diameter of
a circle is the same length as the sides of a hexagon that fits inside
it.
The six-sided hexagon is based on the honeycomb,one of nature's most efficient designs.
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Star Polygon
The star polygon expresses the perfection and balance of God's creation, endlessly repeating and endlessly variable.
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Look at the repeating shapes in this star polygon tesselation.
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