Evolution of Arab Art Overtime - M.Babar

Evolution of Arab Art

Mohammad Babar

Traditional Arab Art

Original Arab art can be traced back to as early as the 7th century throughout the Middle-East, stretching to regions of Spain and India

Calligraphy is one of the most prevalent elements in Arab art. Initially Arab art had been predominantly secular calligraphic inscriptions, decorative manuscripts, rugs and carpets, tiles, and pottery.

As Islam spread, the style of Arab art remained the same but became non-secular and more religious. The Holy Quran can be considered an example of a decorative manuscript.

Traditional Arab Art(continued)

• Traditional Arab art tends to create the impression of continuous repetition. Many believe the reason for this is to symbolize God’s infinite nature.

• To create this imagery, patterns are composed of geometric and floral elements.

• Idolatry are forbidden is Islam, which is one reason figurative art is quite scarce in Arab art.

• The Greeks, Romans, and Sasanians in Iran all influenced the geometric patterns present in Arab art. Arab artists modified the style in order to stress unity and order.

Symmetry & Geometry

geometric designs. This does not affront religious traditions

yet still expresse

s spiritualit

y.Symbolic meanings are absent

from

Rather than

confining the mind

from depictions,

the uniformity

of the patterns

and symmetry

open and unrestrict

human intellect.

"They made tilings that reflect mathematics that were so sophisticated that we didn't figure it out until the last 20 or 30 years.”-Harvard Professor, Peter LU on Islamic art from 1200s

Developments of Arab Art Throughout Time

Textile Fragment5th Century, Byzantine

Panel8th Century, Egypt

Leaf from Quran manuscript1137

Tile Assemblage13th Century, Turkey

Development(continued)

Door14th Century, Egypt

Talismanic shirt15th Century, India

Painting of construction of castle15th Century, Persia

Painting of Emperor17th Century

Western

Influence

• As shown in the timeline, towards the 15th century, there was a shift in art, creeping away from the geometric shapes and calligraphy and focusing more on figurative art.

• European artists such as Gentile Bellini (1429-1507) influenced Turkish artists and eventually Arab artists.

• Although the geometric shapes and calligraphy are still prevalent, Western exposure led to the gradual demise of original Islamic aesthetics.

The Healing of Pietro dei Ludovici-Gentile Bellini, 1501

Western Influence

(continued) The Islamic ban on figurative images was due to the strong worship of idols at the time by non-Muslims.

As idolatry faded, pictures of humans were not deemed offensive to Islamic law leading to a strong adoption of Western art in the East.

Western nations also gained political control over the Arab world, which led to exposure of Western art in Arab countries.

Orientalists artwork was the first type of Western art exposed to the Arabs.

In addition to the Orientalists, the Ottoman military trained their soldiers in modern military schools in Istanbul. The curriculum included courses in drawing and painting, influenced by Western art.

A New Direction While the influence the Western artists had on Arabs

should not be undervalued, it was primarily those who were educated in the newly established art schools who made up the first generation of modern Arab artists.

Those amateur artists had a strong impact in Iraq and Syria, where the impression of the Orientalist painters occurred after World War I.

New educational policies allowed art classes to be available for all Arab youth. Previously only the upper class citizens could afford the training from European artists.

A New Direction (continued)

During the 1950s Arab artists began to be influenced by modern art movements through stronger communication with the West and the return of Arab artists who received education from Western art schools. It was then when Arab artists became more independent and broke away from Orientalist styles.

Arab artists primary goal was to re-define their identity. To do so, they re-presented their history, Islamic and pre-Islamic. Their pre-Islamic heritage was concealed due to Islamic rule so this process actually presented new ideas.

Gradual Transitions Newly formed art groups represented

a social movement, focusing on political, social and intellectual issues at the time.

In 1938 the Egyptian group, Art & Freedom was founded and affected by World War II as well as opposition against the British and Egyptian government. This prompted a revolution amongst artists, rejecting fascist art and adopting Surrealism.

Following Art & Freedom, many other art groups emerged such as the Baghdad Modern Art Group in 1951 who adopted the Western training they received with several contemporary styles.Jawad Salim, founder of Baghdad Art Group

Baghdadiat (Two Women) - 1957

Turning the Page Artists and groups of the 1950s and 1960s were for the most

part independent and focused on their own projects. As the 1970s approached Arab artists felt it was necessary to communicate more and combine their efforts. Short after, Arab governments intervened and demanded “authenticity”, which restricted artists to experiment with new styles. The political uncertainty led artists to move West.

Starting in the 1990s art centers were established in order for Arab artists to network and increase exposure to the art world.

Step Away from Islamic Style

The more recent Arab artists expressed their ideas, emotions, and visions originated from contemporary Arab cultures. Therefore the modern and contemporary art painted by Arab artists is not a perseverance or revival of Islamic art. Instead it is a portrayal of a new type of self expression.

Being confined to Islamic art narrowed down Arabs artists’ opportunity to express their creativity.

Arab artists were entering a period they were defining their identity right after a liberation. At the same time there was ambiguity in regards to their culture, history and tradition.

Development of Arab Art (Part 2)

Naziha SalimOne Nights

Dream - 1978

Laila ShalwaCelcius - 1992

Ismail ShammoutWhere To -

1953

Mahmoud Said

Sunset on The Nile at Luxor

1945

Dia al-AzzawiHurufiyah

Garden -1984

Abdul Qadir Rassam1930s

A New Chapter

As Arab art shied away from Islamic aesthetics, artists expressed themselves on a more personal level. For example there was a greater focus on political and social subject matter as well as topics that would not have been deemed acceptable by Islamic standards.

Arab women also took advantage of the chance to express themselves, an opportunity that was never given before.

In more recent years, here in the West, one of the last things you’ll hear coming out of the Middle-East is art. During a period where the Middle-East is surrounded by war, political corruption, and poverty, art is beginning to shed a new light on everything. At a time where some sort of revolution from the people is greatly needed, some Arab artists are beginning to take their art into a new direction.

The evolution of art has also resulted in letting Arab women express themselves in a new way as well. This new wave of artists are delivering messages with their artwork that touch Muslims and Arabs across the world, touching on issues such as freedom of speech, social justice, and emancipation.

Arabs In Todays Society

"After a bomb explodes, destroying a building, the area is cleared. Then the empty space becomes a parking lot.”

"Then land values rise and another building is constructed on the site. It is a non-stop cycle of destruction and reconstruction.”

-Marya Kazoun, Lebanon

Glasstress Exhibition

Marya Kazoun

"The river is al-Zab, a tributary of the river in Dijla.”

"The red ribbons hint at the terrible things that have happened in Iraq.”

-Walid Siti, Iraq

Wounded Water

Walid Siti

"I started doing it for myself. I wanted to break my own barrier, not the barriers of the West or the Muslim world. Everybody loves to see me as a Muslim, but they don't see it's not about Islam, it's about something else. I'm not trying to shock, it's not perverse, I'm not doing this with a political agenda. It just happens that I'm Muslim and a woman.”

"I liked the idea of representing women through the medium of thread because it is so identified with femininity. I wanted to 'paint' a woman with embroidery, too.”

-Ghada Amer

Ghada Amer

"The events of September 11 made people notice that they know nothing about the Middle East or its culture."

"There is a revival of a new generation who want to express themselves and have found a means either through the internet or digital video cameras. They are finding a much more accessible way of making themselves known to others. Also they are more aware of the funds and sponsorship available in the west.”

-Rosa Issa, Irani-Lebanese critic and curator has played a large role in presenting Arab art to Europe.

Vailed Liberty-AES Art Group

Rose Issa

“Speechless”-Shirin Neshat

Untitled-Jananne Al-Ani, Iraq

“Pleasure Pillars”Shazia Sikander

More Work By Women Arab Artists

The way Arab art has evolved over time is mind blowing. As the centuries turned, so did the direction of Arab art. Initially adopting the style of Islamic art, modern and contemporary artists took a page out of the Western art world’s notebook. Although the calligraphy and geometric shapes are still rather prominent in Arab countries, modern artists chose a more contemporary approach.

As time went on Western influence grew and many Arab artists immigrated West allowing them to embrace their culture and nationality with their artwork, not just religion. With no limits on their subject matter, modern Arab artists focused on several issues such as politics, freedom, gender and more.

This allowed Arab women to express themselves as well which started a whole new revolution. In recent years times have been difficult for Arab countries due to political unrest, war, and poverty. The new direction women Arab artists are took in expressing themselves ignited a much needed revolution for women and Arabs.

Conclusion

BibliographyArab Art as an Early Indicator of Revolution

By Aida Alami October 5,2011http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/world/africa/arab-art-as-an-early-indicator-of-revolution.html?_r=1&ref=design

Strong Showing for Arab Artists at Venice Biennale

By Sylvia Smith

September 6, 2011

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-14580858

The New Generation of Arab Women Artists

By Malu Halasa

March 28, 2003

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2003/mar/29/art.iraqandthearts

Geometric Patterns In Islamic Art

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/geom/hd_geom.htm

Modern Arab Art: Formation of Arab Aesthetics (book)

By Nada M. Shabout

Published October 7, 2007