THE SPIRITUAL SEARCH OF ART OVER ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE WITH NON-FIGURATIVE REPRESENTATIONS

Abstract

Art behind Islamic architecture actually based on geometric patterns, developed through a continuous practice<br />over the centuries after centuries by the influences of various earlier cultures such as Greek, Roman,<br />Byzantine, Central Asian and Persian. Basic shapes like squares and rectangles play significant role in Islamic<br />architecture.The reason is, it might recall the principles that govern the order of the world- ‘Purity’, could<br />only be resembled by pure forms. The façades built by rectangular bricks tend to shape the built form in<br />regular modules. This brickwork casts shadows in strong desert sunlight and creates a three-dimensional effect<br />as light is welcoming message from the Devine source, as it is regarded in all religions. In addition, various<br />pointed starry patterns are common practice and get extremely complex when the outer points are joined<br />together and intersections are connected in a systematic way. Another mode is based on organism of floral<br />forms which recalls the feminine nature of life giving. Again, nobody will argue about the contribution of<br />calligraphy is the most patronized art for decoration. Why have Islamic world choose this universal phenomena?<br />As Allah’s creation is pre-decided, the credit of all creativity belongs to the almighty. Also to his messenger,<br />the holy prophet; who taught us to think in this way. The world is only a shadow of real world; here man is on a<br />bewildered search. May be their firm belief; what man can perceive, can only discover the geometric forms to<br />constitute designs which were already existed before in the ‘real world’. Discovered geometric forms,<br />therefore, tries to exemplify that perfect reality because creation of Allah has been obscured by the sins of<br />mankind- Art of the complete surrender.