The most recognizable geometric motif in Islamic art, collectively known as the "arabesque," stands at the center of a brand new exhibition in Jerusalem this winter. Fittingly located inside the Museum of Islamic Art, which contains one of the largest and rarest collections in the world of Islam-related art, Contemporary Arabesque features both Israeli and Palestinian local artists as they present their contemporary interpretations of the iconic pattern. Each artist brings their own biographical, political, and gender-related ideas to the eccentric mix to come out the other end with a rich and aesthetically diverse display.
© Rimma Arslanov
Two very different approaches have been taken by the artists when dealing with the pattern that dates back to the 10th century. While most Israeli artists related their works to the shapes that exist within the arabesque, drawing on cultural and inter-cultural parallels, the Palestinian artists were able to understand the 'decoration' from a conservative Islamic cultural point of view. They see it as a sign of patriarchal authority, while attaching it to social, gender-related, and political agendas that describe the injustices within this conservatism.
Revel in the many elements that make up this exquisite exhibition, as intricate as the arabesque itself.
Jan 18-Apr 7. The Museum for Islamic Art, 2 HaPalmach St, Jerusalem (02-5661291, islamicart.co.il)