Islamic

What is the Islamic Art?

Islamic art covers the visual arts produced from the 7th century by people who lived within the territory that was inhabited by Islamic populations.

It's an amazing culture fulled of stories and geometric patterns and plant motifs. This artistic period was closely connected to the Islamic religion, that's why you cannot see the figure of their god Alah, because they respect him so much.

Islamic Art

The art of Caligraphy

After watching the video, you will realise the complexity of the letters, and you will notice that it take a long process or time to create them.

The letters have an specific structure based in the human body. The letter will have a chest, a neck and a lower part of the body. The kind of caligraphy borned to transmit the religious message of the Koran (the Islamic book, similar to the Bible).

Ali Baba and the 40 thieves

This story is included in one of the most famous books ever: One Thousand and One Nights.

In the story, Ali Baba is a poor woodcutter who discovers the secret of a group of thieves. He realised that he could enter into a cave by saying the phrase "Open Sesame".

The thieves noticed that Ali Baba knew their secret and they tried to kill him... see the video to discover how the story continues.

Aladdin's Lamp

Another story from the book "One Thousand and One Nights"

Mecca

Mecca is one of the most important cities in Saudi Arabia, mainly because it is one of the most famous places of religious pilgrimage. In Mecca is the Kaaba, the "house of God", is a fragment of meteorite covered with kiswa a black silk cloth with calligraphy embroidered in gold.

All pilgrims are forced to walk left around the Kaaba seven times and have to try to touch the corner of the Black Stone, in a ritual called Tawaf.

In Class

Symbol of Muhammad: Follow the video to create an Islamic symbol.
Create a Mosque Night Light: A nice but simple handcraft to decorate your room with a sunset night light.
Drawing Mosques: Have a look at the presentation to draw a magnifique mosque.
Sunset Mosques: Create a nice picture of a sunset with a mosk against the light.
Arabic Patterns: Geometric motifs are very popular in the Islamic art, see how nice they are!
Geometric Design Workshop: Create your own geometrical artwork.