Origins of art: Islamic architecture is all about intricate artwork, says scholar

Dome of the Rock said to be first important Islamic building.

ISLAMABAD: Some Orientals have tried to downgrade art and decorative elements in Islamic architecture, dubbing it mere decoration. However, the question of whether Islamic architecture is just decoration or is it really related to the structure of the building is a superfluous one.

This was stated by prominent art historian Dr Shaukat Mehmood during a lecture and presentation on “Ornamentation in Muslim Architecture” at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts on Tuesday.

“If you look at the architecture of other religions, it is very decorative. So what if the Islamic monuments are also beautiful?” he said, adding that some Western scholars seem biased towards Islamic art and architecture.



The terms Islamic Art and Muslim Art, he said, essentially represent the same thing — architecture of the mosques and monuments of the Muslim world.

“The first ever important building in the Islamic architecture was the Dome of the Rock built by Khalifa Abdul Malik in Jerusalem and the first kind of decoration we come across in this building is mosaic,” he added.

All Muslim architecture and design, he said, mainly comprised patterns such as geometry, floral motifs, inscriptions typically taken from the Quran.

Showcasing photographs of famous monuments and mosques in Muslim countries, he underlined their precise craftsmanship.

The various compositions of elements such as stones, bricks, clay, wood and glass rendered in traditional techniques lend the architecture its distinctive quality.

Many such monuments were highly ornamented with traditional engravings, calligraphy and frescoes.

The scholar lamented the decay of some precious historic monuments that were degrading in the country because of lack of preservation and dying public interest. He suggested that research and documentation of such structures be carried out to raise awareness, saying they need to be preserved in all their glory.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2014.