A Report by Jose Radin L. Garduque
in MAT Soc. Sci. class of Prof. Jonathan Adjijil in Filamer Christian University, Roxas City (First Semester, A.Y. 2013-2014)
2. Islamic Art:
• Historical Context
• Aesthetic
Consideration
• Spiritual Motif
• Visual Arts (Painting…)
• Architecture
• Literature
• Theater/Drama
• Music
• Dance
3. Islamic Art:
Historical Context
Islamic Art emerged in 610
A.D. It started in Saudi Arabia
and flourished throughout
West Asia, North Africa, South
Asia, Southeast Asia and some
parts of Europe. It evolved
from Roman, Early Christian,
Byzantine, Coptic,
Sassanian/Persian, Central
Asian, Chinese and Indian
influences.
4. Islamic Art:
Historical Context
Religious and civic architecture
were developed under the
Ummayad Dynasty (661-750
A.D.) The Dome of the Rock
was constructed in Jerusalem
during this period. Abd alMalik introduced a standard
coinage that featured Arabic
inscriptions, instead of images
of monarchs.
5. Islamic Art:
Historical Context
Calligraphy began to be used
in surface decoration of
pottery during the Abbasid
Dynasty
(750-1258 A.D.).
Magnificent palaces were built
in Spain during the 1300s.
Turkish carpets and the use of
crescent as the symbol of
Islam became dominant during
the Ottoman Empire (1300s –
1900s). Nowadays, the carpet
industry remains at large!
6. Islamic Art:
Aesthetic Consideration
The beauty and uniqueness of
Islamic Art outshines in
calligraphic designs found in
paintings,
pottery,
textiles/carpets, sculpture and
architecture. Such calligraphy
are mainly derived from
Quranic
verses.
Other
inscriptions include verse of
poetry, records of ownership
and donation.
7. Islamic Art:
Aesthetic Consideration
For most of the Islamic period,
majority of coins only showed
letterings. No Islamic product
has become better known
outside the Islamic world than
the carpet, more commonly
referred to as oriental
carpet/rug. Its beauty is
emphasized by calligraphic,
geometric/batik, landscape &
arabesque designs.
8. Islamic Art:
Aesthetic Consideration
In painting, Chinese influence
include the adoption of bird’s
eye view of hilly landscapes or
palace buildings. Calligraphy in
Islamic pottery were also
influenced by the Chinese.
When it comes to architecture,
the trademark of an Islamic
structure includes horseshoeshaped archs and onionshaped domes.
9. Islamic Art:
Spiritual Motif
Islamic art is not at all
restricted to religious art, but
includes all the art of rich &
varied cultures of Islamic
societies as well. It may
include secular elements that
are frowned upon by Muslim
theologians who are mostly
iconoclasts.
10. Islamic Art:
Spiritual Motif
Although figurative paintings
like depictions of the Prophet
Muhammad exist, it is strictly
prohibited
in
Islamic
establishments like Mosques.
The use of human and animal
figures in Islamic art is feared
by many Muslims because it
can be considered as idolatry.
11. Islamic Art:
Spiritual Motif
That is why Islamic Art has
focused on calligraphy and
arabesque. Arabesque is a
form of Islamic art that uses
geometrical, floral or vegetal
designs in a repetition. It
symbolizes the transcendent,
indivisible & infinite nature of
God. Mistakes in repetitions
maybe intentional to prove
that only God can show
perfection.
12. Islamic Art:
Visual Arts (Painting, Sculpture, Tapestry)
Pisa Griffin – largest
surviving bronze
animal sculpture in
Spain
13. Islamic Art:
Visual Arts (Painting, Sculpture, Tapestry)
Jami Al-Tawarikh –
an artist who
created a painting of
Muhammad lifting
the black stone to
the Kaaba
14. Islamic Art:
Visual Arts (Painting, Sculpture, Tapestry)
Kiswa –
embroidered
covering of the
Kaaba with
expensive and
exquisite calligraphy
(Quranic texts)
15. Islamic Art:
Architecture
Kaaba – located in
Al-Masjid al-Haram
in Mecca, it is a
cubed-shaped
building to which
Muslims face during
prayers and
worship.
19. Islamic Art:
Architecture
ablution facilities –
include
fountains/faucets
where Muslims wash
themselves and shoe
shelves/racks where
they place their
footwear before
entering the mosque
20. Islamic Art:
Architecture
musallah – the
prayer hall inside
the mosque where
Muslims perform
their prayers,
worshipping and
listening to sermons
35. Islamic Art:
Literature
Shahadah – the first
pillar of Islam
wherein a believer
declares “La Illaha ill
Allah, Muhamadar
Rasul Allah” (There
is no god but God,
Muhammad is the
Prophet of God)
42. Islamic Art:
Music
*Some Muslims believe
that only vocal music is
permissible (halal) and
that instruments are
forbidden (haram), but
other Muslims contend
that instruments are
lawful – like daff, zarb,
rebab, etc.
45. Islamic Art:
Music
Nasheed –
traditional religious
song (e.g. Talaal
Badru Alayna, a
1400 year old
nasheed sung by the
people of Medina
upon the prophet’s
arrival to their city)
46. Islamic Art:
Dance
Singkil - this dance takes its
name from the bells worn on
the ankles of the Muslim
princess. Perhaps one of the
oldest of truly Filipino dances,
the Singkil recounts the epic
legend of the "Darangan" of
the Maranao people of
Mindanao.
47. Islamic Art:
Dance
Vinta - Also called Pangalay ha
Pattong, this dance is named
for the picturesque boat with
colorful sails which glide
across the Sulu Sea. Central to
this dance are the Royal
Couple who each balance atop
a pair of swaying bamboo
poles, simulating their ride
aboard a vinta.
48. Islamic Art:
Dance
Katsudorotan - depicts a royal
manner of "walking" among
the Maranao people who live
mainly around Lake Lanao.
Ladies of the royal court
perform this stately dance in
preparation for an important
event. The bright colors and
flowing handkerchiefs add to
the drama of the dance.
49. Islamic Art:
Dance
Sema - performed by
dervishes (equivalent to
monks) by whirling their
bodies to repetitive circles
as symbolic imitation of
the planets in the solar
system
51. Islamic Art
A Report by Jose
Radin L. Garduque
in MAT Soc. Sci.
class of Prof.
Jonathan Adjijil in
Filamer Christian
University, Roxas
City (First Semester,
A.Y. 2013-2014)
