The seventh century was a changing point of history. At that time once great empires of Byzantium and Persia were weakened by continuous wars and new power and culture were born in the Arabian Peninsula united by Islam religion. It was the beginning of the Islamic culture. In this movie, we can see the epic journey across several cities which are the main centers of Islamic development. This documentary film explores the breathtakingly beautiful art of the Islamic world and its history over 1400 years. It gives a chance to see Islamic culture which has an important influence on world history from a different perspective. Art does not belong to one particular culture, art is common to all. Art is a window to the past times. To see and appreciate the masterpiece done by another civilization, it is not necessary to understand it. However, by looking at their meaning we can understand their life, believes, hopes and feelings. The film explores the richness of Islamic art which was created in that civilization. The creation of masterpieces starting from small objects like box for a pen to changes of colors in monumental mosques depending on light is the great work of masters in that civilization. In the film, we can also see admirable beauty of ceramics, painting, textile, metallic tools and an extraordinary array of architecture.
The unique thing in Islamic art is that Arabic words are everywhere. They are not just words; they are sign from God, belief and the sacred world from Koran which would always make a reminder about religion. They are written beautifully and it calls calligraphy. According to Sheila Blair, these inscriptions always say about the fact that God is one, not three as in Christianity. That is one of the key differences of Islam. Calligraphy is an art of writing. Muslims always tried to write Koran as beautiful as possible. According to Mohamed Zachariya who is the well-respected calligraphers in the world, it is a magical art. He says that every detail of art such as a quality of paper and angle of reed pen's cutting is important. Calligraphic writings are very accurate, spiritual and breathtaking. That is the voice of God everywhere around. So we cannot even imagine how they did it, and it is a great piece of art. The next is the architecture of buildings. In the video we can see the Alhambra which was built in the 14th century by the last Muslim rulers of Granada in Spain, mosques are in Damascus, Syria, the mosque in Africa and Sultan Suleiman's creative endeavors including the Topkapi Palace. Let's begin with their similarities. All of them are a great example of architectural art. All mosques have designed the mihrab wall which is placed to direct prayers to Mecca. Buildings are adapted to have many people at one moment like on Friday namaz. Also, they have a specific side for the person who invites and reminds about time to pray, azan riders. Also, some of the mosques have tribune for speakers during meetings. The building could show the power and wealthiness of its creator. The designed several hallways before the main hall, geometric ornaments, and calligraphic writings show the elite life. The luxury was in that courtyards open to the sky, but still inside. According to the Ruba Kanaan the light and its play with color, even smell was important and creates a spiritual effect. Interesting fact, figurative art does not exist in Islamic culture. Even if we can see some paintings and sculptures, they are not idols. All over the Islamic world, the textile plays an important role in purpose making comfort. Textile is very useful and comfortable, we can use it to separate us from dirty, to warm up, to decorate, to sit on it, sleep on it and they are easy to roll up and keep it. The carpet weaving was initially developed in Persia and come to India in 16 century. Weaving is a geometric technique that is easier to make horizontally in one direction and circled weaves were even more complex to do. So, the prints on carpets can be ornaments and figures, also a beautiful view of fauna and flora. In Islam God says "To know me, know my creations". So, they do not paint God, we cannot see it. But we can see it through the beauty of creations. That makes the belief even more spiritual and magical. While talking about Islamic art, it is impossible to not mention colors. Colors of metalware work, buildings or in the textile are amazing. All pigments were derived from nature. It is not hard to colorize silk and cotton. Metallic tools were colorized by inlaying, for example, gold or silver to bronze. One way they used to make colors in grinding. For example, grinding of copper gives blue color and cobalt gives white color. Another part of Islamic Art is related to water supply techniques. Most of the Islamic world is placed in deserts and in dry landscape where rainfall is very low. So, they have developed complex engineering techniques to supply the city with water, for example, qanats and wheels. So coming from this reason, gardens mostly placed in enclosed places. It makes easier to take care of the garden. Garden in Islam with a variety of fruit trees and beautiful flowers is associated with paradise.
Islamic culture is rich in fascinating creations. We need to know not only about the history of wars and catastrophes; we need to know about treasure coming thought centuries. The same attitude should be modulated with Islamic culture's greatest gifts to our world which are an outpouring of creativity and intelligence. Islamic art is a combination of engineering skills and knowledge with deepest emotions that believes and loves to the beauty of their creators.
