Bridging Cultures
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Bridging Cultures presents a collection of work by local artists featuring the traditional art form of Islamic calligraphy. Islamic calligraphy – the artistic practice of handwriting based on the Arabic script – is the most revered form of visual art in the Islamic world. The earliest scripts were originally introduced as a manner of recording the Quran, the central religious text of Islam.
Because Muslims believe that depicting figurative images of God is akin to idolatry, they have channeled their artistic expression towards decorating their religious beliefs through calligraphy. Over the centuries this art has matured as a functional communicative script as well as a method of ornamentation for written manuscripts, architectural structures, and other art forms. Numerous scripts were developed, each with distinctive shapes, characteristics, and purpose. The artists featured in Bridging Cultures work with different media, yet all incorporate Islamic calligraphy into their artwork and continue this esteemed traditional art form. Their artwork may also be viewed during the month of November at the neighboring Barbara Bush Library. |
