The
brilliant colors and well balanced designs of Islamic
art are mysterious and seductive; their patterns
and forms naturally draw us in for closer contemplation
and thought. Just as proscribed by early Muslim
decrees, art created in Islamic regions today, rejects
the use of the human form and instead relies on
the balance of color, line and rhythm in geometric
patterns and designs.
It
is said in the Koran that to work with the hands
allows one to know oneself and, he who knows himself,
knows his Lord. At its core, the work of Islamic
artists is spiritual and whether it is used to embellish
Mosques or as adornment on floors and walls in the
home or in the decorative arts such as ceramic ware,
embroideries or calligraphy, art is a constant reminder
of power and infinity. To live surrounded by such
beauty is to truly be in the presence of the Greatest
of Crafters.
Today, much of Islamic design is taken for granted.
Vendors in crowded bazaars may give little thought
to the meaning of a Tree of Life design or the star,
a symbolic pattern so common in Islamic arts. Somehow,
though, the artist's gift is passed on to us when
we hang beautiful colorful plates with distinctive
Islamic design on our walls or treasure our Islamic
decorative arts for their elegant style. Perhaps,
Carl Jung's belief that certain symbols are part
of our collective soul - that they carry eternal
meaning and power within them - is the best explanation
for why art forms always bridge cultural gaps and
give us common ground to stand on.
| To
the comb-maker, his work was sacred, and held
a subtle meaning that could not be easily explained
or passed on. |
From
the book by Titus Burckhardt, Fez: City of Islam,
is a story that beautifully illustrates the heart
and soul of the Islamic craftsman. The author recounts
the story of a comb-maker who carefully created
his combs from ox-skulls. Utmost care had to be
taken as he removed the skulls, sliced them lengthwise
and straightened them over a fire so that they wouldn't
break. From this material, he made combs, boxes
and personal adornments. All day as he did this
delicate, time consuming work he would sing the
Koranic songs.
He
was half-blind from an eye affliction common in
Africa, but because of the many years plying his
trade, he was still able to turn out elegantly crafted
wares. When cheaper plastic combs began appearing
on the scene, his work was greatly diminished. To
the comb-maker, it seemed senseless to stand in
a factory all day long making poorer quality and
less durable combs while his old craft fell by the
wayside - a craft that could be traced back from
apprentice to master until finally reaching Seth,
the son of Adam who first taught it to man. To the
comb maker, each movement and each procedure is
a bearer of an element of wisdom and to put a man
in front of a machine mindlessly performing tasks
was to rob him of an inheritance from an ancient
prophet.
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