Why does Islamic art use geometric patterns?

The art of the Islamic world images its artistic significance and shows the Muslim opinion of the spiritual domain and the world. For Muslims, the truth starts with and is centered on God. God is at the core of the worshiping and dreams of Muslims and is the center of their energies. in this article, we are going to see why does Islamic art use geometric patterns?

Islamic craftsmen make geometry into art as portraits of individuals were not permitted in religious sites. The benefit of geometric motifs dates back to the earlier days of Islam. Some of the oldest samples date back to the 9th century and they include separate shapes and eight-pointed stars. The techniques developed over the next centuries improved in elaborateness and status of detail.

Detail of ancient mosaic wall with traditional Georgian floral pattern saeidshakouri.com
Detail of old mosaic wall with traditional floral pattern with clay and ceramic details of red, yellow and blue colors

Also, in Islamic art, geometry is a spiritual reminder because it uses circles that have no end and are unlimited, and therefore reminds Muslims that God is unlimited. The intricate geometric designs give the feeling of infinite duplication, and this helps one to get an opinion of God’s endless nature. Repeating designs even show that in small you can discover endlessness and that a single part of the pattern indicates an infinite sum.

Therefore, Islamic art is concentrated on the spiritual presence of things and beings and not their material characteristics. The Muslim artist does not try to repeat the character as it is but attempts to describe what it describes. For Muslims, magnificence has forever been and will be a divine attribute.

wall mosaic in Alhambra, Spain saeidshakouri.com saeid shakouri
Eight-point tiles in Alhambra, Spain

In fact, geometric decoration in Islamic art shows considerable freedom. It allows for infinite growth in duplication and sophistication and can adjust the integration of other kinds of decoration. In terms of abstraction, duplication, and balance, geometric designs have many common features with the so-called arabesque style seen in many plant structures. Geometric motifs consisting of or made from simple forms such as circles and squares are combined, repeated, intermingled, and organized in complex mixtures, thus evolving as one of the most prominent characteristics of Islamic art.

In Islamic art, four main shapes, namely circle, square, polygon, and star are used for geometric patterns, and circle and square are the most fundamental shapes. The star shape can be derived from squares or triangles carved in a circle, and the 8-pointed star is a typical characteristic in Islamic art. Shapes can be merged in an infinite number of configurations and displays. Straightforward elements make complicated designs that allow for unlimited expansion by duplicating and extending the elements. Geometric patterns usually contain other kinds of decoration.

Done ceiling of a mosque in Isfahan, Iran saeidshakouri.com saeid shakouri
Dome of the Sheilh Lotfollah mosque, Curvy gereh patterns, Isfahan – Iran

In fact, in Islam, apart from optics, algebra, trigonometry, astronomy, and numerous other scientific developments and creations of the Islamic Golden Age, there are attractive patterns in internal rooms that beautify mosques, schools, and castles near the world. Islamic craftsmen and artists that banned from creating drawings of people in sacred places, created an immediately recognizable aesthetic based on duplicated geometric figures. The mathematical grace of these plans is that no importance how detailed they are, they are consistently established on grids formed utilizing only a ruler and a couple of compasses.

Islamic technique is founded on Greek geometry, which instructs us that beginning with very basic beliefs, we can construct a significant number of evidence about figures. Islamic designs are visible proof of the sophistication that can be gained with such uncomplicated means.

Oriental Uzbekistan blue tiles saeidshakouri.com saeid shakouri
Six-point kheshti tile, gereh pattern ornaments, Khiva – Uzbekistan

The typical characteristic of Islamic art is to design surfaces covered with geometric designs. This benefit of geometry is believed to convey the language of the universe and helps the believer to use the life and grandeur of creation.

Geometry is truly an adaptable speech that everyone can connect to instinctively. It’s fun, to begin with, an empty piece of paper and sketch stripes and circles, and ends up with a recognizable and attractive design. This procedure links you instantly to the origin of the design. Islamic geometric design combines features of mathematics, art, and history. Trying to interpret the stages that led to the perfect patterns is like a math dilemma. Making new elements requires imagination combined with an awareness of the different styles and decorations employed by the ancients.

Decoration at the Poi-Kalyan complex in the historic centre of Bukhara, Uzbekistan. The mosque was built in 1514. Bukhara saeidshakouri.com saeid shakouri
Decoration at the Poi-Kalyan complex in the historic center of Bukhara, Uzbekistan.

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