The document summarizes the evolution of Arab art over time from its origins in Islamic geometric designs and calligraphy to the modern and contemporary eras. It traces the influences of Western art beginning in the 15th century and the emergence of new styles. Later, as Arab artists gained exposure to modern movements, they began defining their own identities and addressing political and social issues. Recent decades have seen a growing role for Arab women artists and new generations expressing themselves outside of strictly Islamic traditions.

4. the
yet still uniformity of
expresses the patterns
spirituality. and
Rather than symmetry
Symbolic
confining
meanings
the mind
are absent
from
from
depictions,
"They made tilings that reflect
geometric
designs. This
mathematics that were so open and
does not sophisticated that we didn't unrestrict
affront
religious figure it out until the last 20 human
intellect.
traditions or 30 years.”
-Harvard Professor, Peter LU on Islamic art
from 1200s

5. Developments of Arab
Art Throughout Time
Textile Fragment
5th Century, Byzantine
Panel
8th Century, Egypt
Leaf from Quran manuscript
1137
Tile Assemblage
13th Century, Turkey

6. Development (continued)
Door
14th Century, Egypt
Talismanic shirt
15th Century, India
Painting of construction of castle
15th Century, Persia
Painting of Emperor
17th Century

7. • 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
The Healing of Pietro dei
Islamic aesthetics. Ludovici
-Gentile Bellini, 1501

8.  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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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
Jawad Salim, founder of Baghdad Art Group
several contemporary styles.
Baghdadiat (Two Women) - 1957

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. Development of Arab Art
(Part 2)
Naziha Salim
Abdul Qadir One Nights
Rassam Dream - 1978
1930s
Mahmoud
Said
Sunset on Dia al-Azzawi
The Nile Hurufiyah Garden
at Luxor -1984
1945
Ismail
Shammout
Where To -
1953
Laila Shalwa
Celcius - 1992

15. 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.

16. Arabs In Todays Society
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.

17. Marya Kazoun
"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

18. Walid Siti
"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

19. Ghada Amer
"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

20. Rose Issa
Vailed Liberty "The events of September 11 made
-AES Art Group 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.

21. More Work By Women Arab Artists
Untitled
-Jananne Al-Ani, Iraq
“Pleasure Pillars” “Speechless”
Shazia Sikander -Shirin Neshat

22. Conclusion
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.

23. Bibliography
Arab Art as an Early Indicator of Revolution
By Aida Alami
October 5,2011
http://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