Geometry in Islamic Art

This lesson will be looking at the elements and purpose of Islamic design, specifically geometric

patterns.

Vocabulary: Calligraphy arabesque infinite

What differences do you notice between Christian art and Islamic art?

Christian art Islamic art

Uses distinctive, vibrant art which isn't explicitly religious but rather incorporates all artistic traditions in muslim culture.Answer underneath

Uses images, icons and statues in a work of art (known as Iconography)

Answer underneath

Islamic geometric patterns- Background Knowledge

Islamic Art mostly avoids figurative images to avoid becoming

objects of worship. This aniconism ( the avoidance of images of

sentient beings in some forms of Islamic Art) in Islamic culture

caused artists to explore non-figural art and created a shift

towards mathematically- based decorations.

Many Islamic designs are built on squares and circles, typically

repeated, overlapped and interlaced to form intricate and complex

patterns. A recurring motif is the 8-pointed star, often seen in

Islamic tilework; it is made of two squares, one rotated 45

degrees with respect to the other. The star is a common feature

of Islamic art as it represents guidance in the darkness. Before

the invention of a compass, travellers would use the stars to find

their direction if lost.

Islamic decoration consists of three main elements:

1. Calligraphy

Calligraphy, which is a form of artistic writing, allowed

early Islamic artists to communicate a text in a

decorative form. It was used in the early Islamic

civilisation to decorate many different items including

manuscripts, clothing, pottery, buildings and armour.

The practice of calligraphy has been and still is

regarded, not only as the creation of a work of art,

but as an act of grace.

The photo shows a page

from the Qur’an, which is

written using calligraphy.

2. Arabesque

Islamic Vegetal patterns feature Arabesque (meaning ‘in the Arab fashion’ in French)

patterns consisting of foliage and flowers in a linear pattern. These semi-natural

patterns used in early Islamic art decorated buildings, textiles, pottery and

manuscripts.

The patterns are based on plants and flowers found in the natural world and are a

representation of god’s creation and of heaven. Muslims avoid drawing images of God it

is seem as limiting God to human perception.

3. Geometric patterns

Geometric patterns were very popular in the early Islamic civilisation and they decorated everything from clothing to buildings, including mosques. Geometric patterns could be used on their own or combined with calligraphy or vegetal patterns to form more complex artwork. Geometric patterns consist of repeating, interlaced or overlapped shapes arranged

in complex, intricate patterns.

By the complex geometric designs overlapping and creating the impression of unending repetition, it helped to remind people of the infinite nature of Allah.

Task:Using paper, pencil, ruler and four colours, draw an Islamic pattern by following the instructions on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7z-G0tWd3c

Today you will be drawing your own Islamic geometric

pattern.

Use the instructions on the resource titled ‘Drawing your

Own Geometric Pattern’ to help you.

Task

When you have finished, try and see if you can you create your own geometric pattern using different shapes. Do all shapes work?