Art in Islam tends to be abstract and decorative. Because of the traditional prohibition on painting or drawing human or animal figures, Islamic artists and craftsmen chose to use geometry, florals, and calligraphic designs in their work. Among the styles of arts and crafts that Muslim artists developed:
Calligraphy: Islamic artists elevated calligraphy into a high art form in its own right, developing a myriad of styles, both practical and decorative. There are six major calligraphic styles from the everyday practical scripts to highly decorative ones.
Decoration: Islamic artists used calligraphy and elements based on geometry and flowers to carve, paint, embroider, and weave intricate and complex patterns for the purpose of decorating mosques, minbars, palaces, tombs, schools, public spaces, carpets, screens, homes, lamps, clothing, and more.
Rugs: So-called Oriental rugs from Iran (Persia), Turkey, and Afghanistan are both prized family heirlooms and pieces of art displayed in museums and purchased by collectors.
Miniatures: Later Islamic empires and peoples, such as the Ottomans and Mughals, held that it was permissible to paint a human or animal figure as long as these figures retained a generic quality in their faces and body shapes. From this permissive attitude came the great miniature paintings and illuminated manuscripts of the Mughals, Turks, and Persians.
Today, we see Muslim visual artists expressing themselves and their faith though a myriad of traditional and contemporary fine arts and crafts forms, including glass work, needlework, painting, woodworking, metalworking, photography, and computer graphic design.
Interviews with Visual Artists
Muhammad Ali Aerosoul Design
Eric Broug Broug Ateliers for Islamic Architecture, Arts, & Crafts
Bint eh Adam Tranquilart
Ian Abdul Lateef Whiteman Culver Whiteman Design
(source : www.renderingislam.com)
