There Is a Connection in Islamic Architecture Between Space and Decoration

Islamic Art

There is a connection in Islamic architecture between space and decoration.

Because little furniture is traditionally used for daily life in Islam, decoration contributes to the creation of a sense of continuous space that is a hallmark of Islamic architecture. There is a feeling of continuous space is created in Islamic architecture through the multiplication of given patterns and architectural elements.

Floors and ceilings contribute to the fluidity of space by the nature of their decoration, since they are often patterned in the same manner as the walls.

Basic foundation of calligraphy and geometry.

In architecture, the repetition and multiplication of elements based on the arch.

Water and light transform space (and add layers of patterns).

Calligraphy

Geometric patterns exemplify the Islamic interest in repetition and symmetry.

Floral patterns (flowers, trees, flowering plants, etc.)

The arabesque (geometricized vegetal ornament) is "characterized by a continuous stem which splits regularly, producing a series of counterpoised, leafy, secondary stems which can in turn split again or return to be reintegrated into the main stem,

Islam discourages artists from producing images of humans and animals.

As the Qur’an is not a narrative like the Torah or the Gospels, there is little reason for Muslims to tell religious stories through pictures. Instead, Islamic religious art has focused on the glorification of God's word, specifically by writing it beautifully, and accompanying the Arabic script with geometric and floral designs known as arabesques, in which plants grow according to the laws of geometry rather than nature. Some people believe that these designs have deep spiritual and mystical meaning, while others believe they are simply beautiful patterns. Believers are free to see in these designs whatever they like — this sense of ambiguity is one of the hallmarks of Islamic art. An example of religious art is a beautifully calligraphied manuscript of the Qur’an.

COLOR

USED TO CONTRAST AGAINST DULL LANDSCAPE / ENVIRONMENT

COLOR GREEN IS ASSOCIATED WITH MUHAMMAD

GREEN = FERTILITY & YOUTH

ANICONISM

ABSENCE OF HUMAN FIGURES

OPPOSITION TO THE USE OF IDOLS OR IMAGES

ALLAH IS UNIQUE & CANNOT BE REPRESENTED EXCEPT BY HIS WORDS IN THE QURAN

GEOMETRIC DESIGNS

COMPLEX DESIGNS EXIST EVERYWHERE

REPRESENTS STRONG CONNECTION BETWEEN ISLAM & MATHEMATICS

SCIENCE & MATH = MUSLIMS’ GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN KNOWLEDGE

ARABESQUES

DESIGN IN WHICH NATURAL FORMS SUCH AS STEMS, FLOWERS AND TREES ARE ARRANGED TO FORM INFINITE PATTERN

ADOPTED BY EARLY MUSLIMS FROM ROMAN & BYZANTINE ART

WAY TO DISSOLVE IMAGES & INDIVIDUALISM

CALLIGRAPHY

MEANS “BEAUTIFUL WRITING”

REPRESENTS SACRED WORDS OF ALLAH

CONSIDERED HIGHEST ART FORM IN ISLAMIC WORLD