Islamic Arts and Design

(Re)Defining and Its Common

Misconceptions

INTRODUCTION
Nur Syazadiyanah binti Suraini
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Design
(Interior Design)
KAED, IIUM
19 Sept 2014

Defining:
ART
Expression. Application. Creative
Visual.
askill.
mirror
of a culture, and its worldview

ISLAMIC
Something related to Islam.
What does Islam means?
How are the two related?

ISLAMIC
ART

Common understanding (Earlier)

Central feature:
Top-notch

craftsmanship
.

WHY?

Central feature:

Problem in the Modern World:

Loss of experts, traditional
craftsmanship,
Woah.
Loss of valuable gems.
Example: Minbar of Saladin,
Masjidil Aqsa
A majestic wooden pulpit
Strong symbol of triumph
of the Muslim army over
the Crusaders
Burnt down in a fire, 21st
August
Reconstruction period up to
40 years. BUT

Problem in the Modern World:

Loss of experts, traditional
craftsmanship,
Woah.
Loss of valuable gems.
Example: Minbar of Saladin,
Masjidil Aqsa
A majestic wooden pulpit
Strong symbol of triumph
of the Muslim army over
the Crusaders
Burnt down in a fire, 21st
August
Reconstruction period up to
40 years. BUT
http://www.scribd.com/doc
/229019576/History-ofIslamic-Arts-Minbar-ofSaladin-pdf

Common understanding (Today)

All of the arts that were produced
in the land where Islam was the
dominant religion or the rulers
religion; all art forms produced in
the Islamic World.
Islamic Art is actually quite
hard to explain.
You cant really say Islam
belongs to certain criteria of arts.
Dr Harlina Md Shariff,
History of Arts, Semester 1
2011/2012

Common Misconceptions:
Made by Muslims, for
Muslims.
Some, but not all.
This piece directly reflects
TheIslam.
advent of Islam to a certain region
plays an important role of influence.
pp. Rafiq Hafizuddin, 3rd
year CDE
2014

Common Misconceptions:
Being Islamic isnt being objective to
just a few visible characteristics.
A synthesis of local traditions and more
global ideas.

It must LOOK Islamic (read:

Example: Domes
Arabic)

Islamic arts and design form a large and complex subject

Lets

REDEFIN
E

from a Muslim designers

Not necessarily how it appears on
perspective
the surface, it goes way beyond.

Bottom line is how we see things.

Is it beneficial to mankind?

the
production?
Along the process?

Did we borrow, or steal our friends

tool?

Conclusion:
INSTEAD OF PRACTICE ISLAM, LIVE, ISLAM.

Shift the definition

paradigm
Widen our scope of
thinking
Manifest. Establish.
Demonstrate.

You dont say you practice Islam. Practicing is doing something

extra.

Islam is life. Islam is not practicing, it is living.

When you practice something too much, youll get fed up or tired of it
At one point, we will want to have some holiday from the practice.
If they practice it 24/7, people will explode, Enough!
Dr Spahic Omer
Quran Sunnah and Built Environment, Semester 2, 2013/2014.