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A Discovery in Architecture: 15th Century Islamic Architecture Presages 20th Century Mathematics |
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By: FSTC Limited, Mon 26 February, 2007 |
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This article relates the discovery by two American scholars, Paul J. Steinhardt and Peter J. Lu (respectively from the department of physics at Princeton and Harvard universities) that medieval Islamic artists produced intricate decorative patterns using geometrical techniques that were not understood by Western mathematics until the 20th century.
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Beauty and Aesthetics in Islam |
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By: FSTC Limited, Thu 25 January, 2007 |
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HRH Princess Wijdan Ali The Islamic civilisation allowed the development of autonomous norms of beauty that were inspired by the faith of Islam. The Islamic artistic tradition viewed the beauty of the universe, emphasized in the Quran, and the literary qualities of the Quranic text itself, as compelling evidence for the divine hand. In this fascinating article, HRH Princess Wijdan Ali investigates the unique philosophy that underpins and guides Islamic art and the Muslim artist-artisan and developed the elements of a real and original philosophy of art, beauty and aesthetics in the Islamic culture.
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The Minaret, Symbol of a Civilization |
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By: Cherif Jah Abderrahmán, Wed 17 January, 2007 |
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The minaret is the architectural shape which best indicates the presence of mosque. Over the centuries the mosque assumed a number of roles including a social centre, place for prayer, teaching institute, court of justice, space for financial transactions and an area for administrative organization. This presentation reviews the philosophy behind the shape and function of the Minaret.
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The Art of Calligraphy in the Ottoman Empire |
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By: FSTC Limited, Wed 10 January, 2007 |
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Ottoman Turks produced and perfected several varieties of Arabic script. All the various branches of the art of calligraphy, an art greatly loved and respected by the Ottoman Turks, were flourished particularly in the city of Istanbul.
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Islamic Art as a Means of Cultural Exchange |
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By: FSTC Ltd, Tue 28 November, 2006 |
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With the expansion of Islam over a vast area of land, Muslim artists started to develop the traits they had borrowed from other civilizations, and created their own styles, motifs and fashion which conformed to the teachings of their own religion, thus shaping their own aesthetics.
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A Treasure House on the Hudson |
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By: Louis Werner, Thu 16 March, 2006 |
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Olana is a remarkable galley of exquisite works of art collected by Fredric Edwin Church during his travels in the Muslim World. In fact, the actual design of Olana was inspired by the architecture of buildings in Muslim Lands. This article delves deeper into the great influence of Muslim styles on the imagination and efforts of Church.
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Andalusia’s New Golden Pottery |
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By: Tor Eigeland, Mon 27 February, 2006 |
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In times past, Granada was a hub of artistic flair, imagination, and creativity, to the extent that the architecture of Muslim Spain exists as amongst the proudest Spanish monuments to this day. Such passion and dedication permeated many other realms of artistic endeavour such as calligraphy and perhaps not as well known, pottery.
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Cosmic Motifs & Elements in Seljuk and Ottoman Architecture |
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By: Nakis Akgul, Thu 29 September, 2005 |
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The structure of Mosques and other buildings draw inspiration from descriptions in the Qur'an as well as pre-Islamic motifs. Here we look at how some of the resulting motifs and elements reflect the idea of the ordered cosmos.
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Ebru: The Art of Paper Marbling |
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By: FSTC Research Team, Wed 01 February, 2006 |
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FSTC Research Team Marbling is an art form developed in the Muslim world, possibly with Chinese origins. Often it has been used to create colourful book binding inside covers. Here is a little history of this art.
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West African Mosque Architecture - A Brief Introduction |
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By: Kafia Cantone, Fri 31 March, 2006 |
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Mosques built in parts of the Muslim world where Arabs migrated or took control of through wars developed a distinct tradition of domes and minarets. In areas where Islam spread mostly by returning traders, traditions of mosque building were determined more by local skills and approaches. Here is a brief look at the tradition in West Africa.
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