Islamic Art Patterns: Emirati Architecture Identity

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Table of Contents

The Definition of Pattern
Islamic Art Patterns in the Emirati Architecture
Vernacular Art in the Emirates
Works Cited

The Definition of Pattern

A pattern is the main idea in art and maybe in the whole world. The pattern means that some parts or parts of work are repeated to cover a piece of a surface of the whole surface. Most artists make their patterns clear, and some patterns can serve as a master’s individual signature. To make a pattern, they play with color, texture, and contours (“Pattern” par. 1-2). Through pattern, artists make their work symmetric and harmonious (Baer 3).

General History of Islamic Art Patterns

Each person has his or her own views on Islamic Art. Seeing art or producing art, faithful Muslims can express their trust in the established truths of Islam and celebrate it. Non-Muslims can discover mysterious riddles in fascinating decorum laid on things we use every day. Tourists marvel at forms and colors. Art historians, critics, and experts studying the matter seek to grasp the patterns’ meanings and the philosophy of the artists.

Islamic Art as we know it began in the VII century and continued up to the middle-XX century. It was produced by both Muslims and non-Muslims who lived in the lands belonging to the people of Islam culture. People producing various art items were, for example, architects, sculptors, calligraphers, potters, etc. Throughout history, Islamic Art was influenced by many other ancient cultures, such as Egyptian, Persian, Byzantine, and even Indian and Chinese.

However, Islamic Art would not be the way we know it without Arabic influence. This component is the most important. It gave Art its language. It filled the Art with the holy spirit of the Koran. It taught the Art how to write calligraphically. Calligraphy is a special component of Islamic Art that makes it recognizable.

Mathematics and other exact sciences interested the Arab people greatly. They took the basic mathematic principles from Romans and later developed them into a big field of study. They used the rules of geometry creating famous repeated patterns that mark the Art and its features (Bloom and Blair 373-375).

Types of Art Patterns and their Symbolic Meaning

First and foremost, the principle of infinity is an important part of Art. It means that all little elements are repeated many times to cover the surface. The origin of such a pattern is the idea that God is infinite, and man is frail and will not last long. The infinite pattern can be traced through the history of Art. It can be abstract or literal. Every other pattern can be turned into infinity, for example, medallions, squares, stars, etc. (Baer 10-42). Most fully this principle can be used in Arabesque. This is a design that consists of flowers and leaves that are placed geometrically on a surface. It can be put on all kinds of surfaces, for example, mosque walls, textile, and woodwork. It suggests endless variations of the pattern because the components can be combined differently (Bloom and Blair 63).

Another principle is the dissolution of solid fabric. The symbolic meaning of it is that people are mortal, and souls are not. In other words, the matter dissolves, but the afterlife is infinite. This principle is mainly used in architecture. The walls of mosques, for example, can be enriched with an infinite arabesque pattern, or birds, or geometric figures. The decorum hides the walls, and no one knows that these are walls. Instead, people see the infinite pattern and feel that they can experience the true grace of God in this holy place (Bloom and Blair 199-201).

As for calligraphy, it was a very important part of Islamic Art. Almost every decoration features a calligraphic script. The reason for it is that scripts contain the wisdom of God taken from the Holy Book. This is why the texts of the calligraphic scripts usually contain citations from the Koran and sayings of the pious poets (Bloom and Blair 341-351).

Islamic Art Patterns in the Emirati Architecture

Ornaments and patterns are the historical heritage of the Emirates. They travel through history untouched and are part of the great tradition (Amrousi and Shakour 7). In general, the colors used in Emirati architecture are soft and delicate. The patterns do not strike your eye; the texture is pleasant. The ornaments are minimalistic. Most often, geometrical patterns are used. Décor is placed above the doors and on the facades. All in all, the mosques give the impression of quiet places for meditation. The reason for it is that Islam is aimed at moderation in all ways (Mosque Development Committee 69).

Vernacular Art in the Emirates

The most common vernacular art pieces are the Julfar pots. Potters have made them by hand since the XII century. Archeologists discovered the majority of old pots in Ras al-Khaiman (Kennet 19). They were made of clay and were either orange or gray. The potters did not glaze them. The decorations could be of different colors and patterns. The most frequent patterns were calligraphic scripts or flowers. They were used for different purposes, such as storing things and cooking (Kennet 35).

Works Cited

Amrousi, Mohamed El, and Sadeka Shakour. “Contemporary Manifestations of Islamic Arts in the UAE, Meaning and Representation.” Journal of Architecture, Planning & Construction Management 3.1 (2013): 1-16. Print.

Baer, Eva. Islamic ornament, Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh University Press, 1998. Print.

Bloom, Jonathan, and Sheila Blair. Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture: Three-Volume Set, Oxford, United States: OUP USA, 2009. Print.

Kennet, Derek. Sasanian and Islamic pottery from Ras al-Khaimah: classification, chronology and analysis of trade in the Western Indian Ocean, Oxford, United Kingdom: Archaeopress, 2004. Print.

Mosque Development Committee. Abu Dhabi Mosque Development Regulations, Mosque Development Committee. Abu Dhabi Mosque Development Regulations, Appendix 3: Vernacular Study. 2008. Web.

Pattern 2015. Web.

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