* Literally, this picture represents a person is holding a lamb on a book “Lpetcontesnucuecttatonieg * SYMDbolically, ic eee represents much + But where does the inspiration for peculiar Islamic styles come from? Shari'ah? more [s the interest in“Islamie are" reflective ofthe * Explicit symbolism elitism of moderns? Docs he singe ofthe ies Hslinsrae [plicit symbolism Islamic Art: Language and SpiritInterpreting Islamic Art e John Renard identifies three approaches to the interpretation of Islamic art ° Minimalists (Faruqi) » Islamic art is based on the theological principle of Tawhid and communicates only through implicit symbolism ° Maximalists(Nasr, Burckhardt, Ardalan) » Islamic art is based on the theological principle of Tawhid, but communicates through explicit symbolism (universal symbolic forms/archetypes) * Connect Islamic art to a) Islamic culture and b) mystical experience Interpreting Islamic Art e Middle Position (Grabar) o We may call this a contextualist approach ° Deny that there is always some inherent symbolism in Islamic art ° Focus on the workings of Islamic societiesIslamic Sources of Influence e All mosques are characterized by emptiness. “Emptiness is fullness” (Nasr) ¢ The ground is sanctified ° the prophet's forehead touched it, e Muslims daily prayers . the development of the art of carpets , Principles of Islamic Architecture e According to Nasr, the principles of Islamic art come directly from the Qur’an and the ahadith, but aren’t stated explicitly e We do not have historical evidence for what inspired the creators of the great Islamic arts, but we do know that © they were parts of artistic guilds, and e that these brotherhoods were connected to some tariaah (esoteric spiritual path)The Spatial Centre ° Geometrical forms have symmetry, so they always return to a centre Symmetry ¢ The Divine Center is always present— “Wherever you turn there is the face of God”Principles of Islamic Art (Nasr) e |.Tawhid ° All “authentic” Islamic art must reflect Divine Unity. Implications: » Integration of form, it must have a centre » Harmony and coherence e 2. Jamal ° “God is beautiful and loves beauty” e 3. Un-Iconic ° A refusal to depict the Divine directly » But then how do you represent or hint at the Divine? © Emptiness, the lack of image or centreHierarchy of the Arts (Nasr) ° |. Psalmody of the Qur’an- Tajwid ° 2. Calligraphy ° 3. Architecture ° 4. Dress ° Then everything else, including even the bowl in which one eats! e According to Nasr, the closer something to the human soul and the more effect it may have, the more it needs to be beautified ° A lived affirmation of the Divine attribute ofPrinciples of Islamic Art (Nasr) e 4. Realism A deliberate attempt not to distort reality in a way that fools - Avoidance of three-dimensionality? ° An opposition to “naturalism” + Paintings often depict the spiritual, paradisal world e 5. Nothingness of the World: La ilah illa Allah ¢ 6. Non-Individualistic ° Think of Sufi Music