Islamic artIslamic art is devoted to the Muslim faith. Islamic art works were created by Muslim artists and were commissioned by Muslim rulers. Islam is a way of life thus its unique art can be find in the everyday life. The Islamic style had changed throughout the centuries but some characteristics remained the same and can be easily identified by them such as calligraphy, vegetal patterns, geometric patterns, and figural representation.
|
Abbasid caliphate (750-1258) Under the Abbasid caliphate, the cities of Baghdad and Samarra became the capitol places of architecture and in those days were developed the so-called "arabesque" form, an abstract geometric and vegetal pattern. Arabesque forms were used widely in every art form and today it is the most popular and recognized Islamic art style. Photo right. SULEYMAN the Magnificent Under Suleyman, Ottoman Empire was at its zenith, the most powerful in the military, in the political, and in the art field. Suleyman conquered Hungary in 1541, thus threatening the Western world for 150 years. However, they left many nice baths, minarets, and mosques in Europe from that period. Picture right: Cami of Pasha Gasi Kasim, 1579, Pecs, Hungary. |
Talismans and amulets
Talismans and amulets are objects for protecting Muslims from dangers and demons. Talismans can contain Muhammad's words, the 99 names of God or the names of prophets, verses from the Qur'an. Amulets (picture on the left) shield people from evils. Talismans, amulets, mirrors, boxes are also used by physicians to cure people. Talismans were very popular in the early Islamic period, under the rule of the Umayyad caliphate. UMAYYAD CALIPHATE (661-750) This period kept the classic antique traditional motifs developed by Byzantines like figural or animal motifs. One of the oldest mosque was built in that period in Medina, between 706-10, which also called the Prophet's house, because it was the house of Muhammad. The original mosque was built by the prophet himself, and later was enlarged. Muhammad let his camel loose and where it stopped to rest became the location of the mosque. After Mecca, Medina is the second holiest site in the Muslim world, where Muslims can really feel home. The mosques of Damascus are also very significant from the Umayyad period. The Great Umayyad Mosque, picture right, was formerly the Basilica of Saint John the Baptist. There is a shrine inside which still contains the head of John the Baptist. It is believed that this is the place where Isa (Jesus) will return at the end of the world. Oriental Rugs The beautiful oriental rugs are very popular around the world. They started to spread in Europe around the renaissance era and are popular since. Muslims use them as prayer rug (picture left) as well, but can see anywhere else in their houses. These rugs influenced European paintings and they can be seen in many art works of such artists like Holbein, Rubens or Vermeer. Johannes Vermeer depicted a Persian carpet on his painting "Young Woman with a Water Pitcher" on the table. It has an floral arabesque motif. Persian carpets represented, and still does today since they are very expensive items, wealth, power, and elegancy. Bath According to the Five Pilars of Islam, before praying, Muslims have to perform ablution. The two forms of ablution are the full-body cleansing, and the cleansing of the face, hands, and feet. Bathes, or hammams are located close to mosques. Hammams are similar to Roman baths and were built beautifully. They are architectural masterpieces. Pictures left: Outside and inside of a 500 years old Turkish bath in Budapest, Hungary |
DERVISH
Dervishes are Sufi Muslim ascetic people who live in extreme poverty and austerity. They beg for money and give it to the poor. They leave their ego behind to reach God. Dervishes dance in ecstatic trance (fana, majdhb) to reach Allah and an universal love. Their dance is part of the Sema ceremony. This ceremony is not for tourists, however, today dervish dance is part of the tourist attractions. The chant and monotonic music help the dervishes to get to be tranced. The video shows a whirling Dervish dancing group from Aleppo, Syria. |
|
SOURCES
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hi/te_index.asp?i=Islamic
http://www.prophetpbuh.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/The-Sultan-Ahmed-Blue-Mosque-in-Istanbul-Turkey-at-Dusk-Islamic-Architecture-Picture.jpg
http://www.cgsociety.org/cgsarchive/newgallerycrits/g20/205520/205520_1349704908_large.jpg
http://lw.lsa.umich.edu/kelsey/pearls/img/zoom/starb.jpg
http://islaminform.com/en/prophets-mosque-or-al-masjid-nabaw
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shrine_of_John_the_Baptist,_Great_Umayyid_Mosque,_Damascus.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dervish
http://www.islamicnet.com/images/islamic-pics/Islamic-Architecture.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1188/702734151_3349bb6a01_o.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Torok_furdo_Budapest_Ganz_utca_PB010341-lev-1000.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_bath
http://www.prophetpbuh.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/The-Sultan-Ahmed-Blue-Mosque-in-Istanbul-Turkey-at-Dusk-Islamic-Architecture-Picture.jpg
http://www.cgsociety.org/cgsarchive/newgallerycrits/g20/205520/205520_1349704908_large.jpg
http://lw.lsa.umich.edu/kelsey/pearls/img/zoom/starb.jpg
http://islaminform.com/en/prophets-mosque-or-al-masjid-nabaw
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shrine_of_John_the_Baptist,_Great_Umayyid_Mosque,_Damascus.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dervish
http://www.islamicnet.com/images/islamic-pics/Islamic-Architecture.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1188/702734151_3349bb6a01_o.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Torok_furdo_Budapest_Ganz_utca_PB010341-lev-1000.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_bath