Islamic Art

While I have seen Islamic art on TV or in magazines before, this was my first time ever being up close and personal with it. What was amazing to me was the great amount of detail that was in each and every piece of art. The piece, “Bowl with Animals” especially amazed me with its intricate design and fragile composition. In terms of foreignness and familiarity, I mostly felt like I had seen pieces which resembled these in the media or literature I have read. However, while the pieces looked a little bit like what I expected, it did not stop me from feeling far removed from our modern culture. In a lot of ways the color is what generally creates distance between me and the work of art, as many of the pieces are use muted, desert colors (brown, red, tan) over more vivid colors.

Geometry and pattern obviously plays a huge role in Islamic art. Most every piece contains some pattern, and many are symmetrical in their composition. While I may not know if this is exactly the case, in the movie The Prince of Egypt, Jethro sings “A single thread in a tapestry/though its color brightly shines/can never see its purpose/in the pattern of the grand design.” Essentially Islamic culture emphasizes community, and that we are all part of a “grand design.” Thus, by having pattern permeate throughout their artwork, Islamic artists are reinforcing the idea of cumulative significance: that we are all only part of God’s great plan. This is what I think is the reason for pattern in Islamic art.

What I learned about my own creative tendencies is that I can be a lot more open about expressing my beliefs in my art. Many great artists have represented their faith through their creations, and experiencing this exhibit has taught me that I can also do this with my creations as well. Truly, allowing your beliefs to influence your art gives it a much greater significance than it would have otherwise.