In Islamic culture, geometry plays a big role in the design of places like mosques, schools, palaces, and homes. This tradition started way back in the 8th century CE, during the early days of Islam. Back then, artists took inspiration from Roman and Persian designs and turned them into new, unique styles. This period was a golden age for Islamic culture, where people preserved and built upon the achievements of earlier civilizations, making great strides in science and mathematics.
Along with these advancements, Islamic art began to use complex geometry and abstraction in a sophisticated way. You can see this in the detailed floral designs on carpets and textiles, as well as in tile patterns that seem to go on forever. These designs create a sense of wonder and make people think about the idea of eternal order. Even though these patterns look complicated, they can be made using just a compass to draw circles and a ruler to draw lines, resulting in a wide variety of patterns.
The process of creating these designs starts with a circle. The first important step is deciding how to divide the circle. Most patterns divide the circle into four, five, or six equal parts, each leading to unique designs. You can identify the symmetry of a pattern by counting the rays of a starburst or the petals around it. For example, a star with six rays is part of the sixfold category, while one with eight petals belongs to the fourfold category.
Another key element in these designs is an invisible grid. This grid is crucial for determining the scale of the design, ensuring accuracy, and helping create new patterns. For instance, if you start with a circle inside a square and divide it into eight equal parts, you can draw criss-crossing lines. By choosing different segments of these lines, you can create various repeating patterns. The final design comes together through a process called tessellation, where repeating a single tile creates a complete pattern.
Different sets of construction lines can lead to a wide range of patterns, showing the almost limitless possibilities. You can follow similar steps to create sixfold patterns by drawing lines over a circle divided into six parts and tessellating them. Sixfold patterns have been found in many places over the centuries, including Marrakesh, Agra, Konya, and the Alhambra.
Fourfold patterns fit within a square grid, while sixfold patterns align with a hexagonal grid. However, fivefold patterns are tricky for tessellation because pentagons don’t fit together neatly. This means other shapes need to be added to create a repeatable pattern, resulting in designs that might look complex but are actually quite simple to make.
Tessellation isn’t limited to basic geometric shapes. The famous artist M.C. Escher showed how different shapes can create intricate patterns. While Islamic geometric design usually avoids elements like fish and faces, it sometimes uses multiple shapes to create complex patterns. This tradition, which has been around for over a thousand years, uses basic geometry to create beautiful, decorative works, highlighting the potential of artistic intuition, creativity, dedication, and the simple tools of a compass and ruler.
Using a compass and a ruler, try creating your own geometric pattern. Start with a circle and decide how many equal parts you want to divide it into. Experiment with different divisions like four, five, or six parts, and see how the patterns change. This activity will help you understand the basics of Islamic geometric design and how simple tools can create complex patterns.
Cut out paper tiles in different shapes such as squares, triangles, and hexagons. Try to tessellate these shapes on a flat surface to create a repeating pattern. Notice how some shapes fit together easily while others, like pentagons, require additional shapes to complete the pattern. This will give you insight into the challenges and creativity involved in Islamic design.
Use a computer program or an app that allows you to draw geometric shapes. Create a digital mosaic by layering and repeating shapes to form a complex design. This activity will help you appreciate the role of the invisible grid and the endless possibilities of pattern creation in Islamic art.
Choose a famous Islamic architectural site, such as the Alhambra or a mosque in Marrakesh, and research its geometric designs. Prepare a short presentation for your class, highlighting the types of patterns used and their cultural significance. This will deepen your understanding of the historical context and artistic achievements of Islamic design.
Work in groups to create a large-scale geometric pattern on poster paper. Each group member can contribute by drawing a section of the pattern, using principles of symmetry and tessellation. Once completed, display your collaborative artwork in the classroom to showcase the beauty and complexity of Islamic geometric design.
In Islamic culture, geometry is prevalent in various settings such as mosques, madrasas, palaces, and private homes. This tradition began in the 8th century CE during the early history of Islam, when artisans adapted existing motifs from Roman and Persian cultures into new forms of visual expression. This era was a golden age for Islamic culture, marked by the preservation and advancement of many achievements from previous civilizations, leading to significant progress in scientific study and mathematics.
Accompanying these advancements was a sophisticated use of abstraction and complex geometry in Islamic art, evident in intricate floral motifs on carpets and textiles, as well as tile patterns that appear to repeat infinitely, evoking a sense of wonder and contemplation of eternal order. Despite the complexity of these designs, they can be created using just a compass to draw circles and a ruler to create lines, resulting in a diverse array of patterns.
The process begins with a circle, and the first major decision is how to divide it. Most patterns divide the circle into four, five, or six equal sections, each yielding distinctive designs. An easy way to identify the symmetry of a pattern is by counting the rays of a starburst or the petals surrounding it. For instance, a star with six rays belongs to the sixfold category, while one with eight petals is part of the fourfold category.
Another crucial element in these designs is an underlying grid, which, although invisible, is essential for determining the scale of the composition, ensuring accuracy, and facilitating the creation of new patterns. For example, starting with a circle within a square and dividing it into eight equal parts allows for the drawing of criss-crossing construction lines. By selecting different segments of these lines, various repeating patterns can emerge. The final design takes shape through a process called tessellation, where multiple repetitions of a single tile create a cohesive pattern.
Different sets of construction lines can yield a variety of patterns, showcasing the virtually endless possibilities. Similar steps can be followed to create sixfold patterns by drawing construction lines over a circle divided into six parts and tessellating them. Sixfold patterns have been found across the centuries in various locations, including Marrakesh, Agra, Konya, and the Alhambra.
Fourfold patterns fit within a square grid, while sixfold patterns align with a hexagonal grid. However, fivefold patterns present a challenge for tessellation, as pentagons do not neatly fill a surface. This necessitates the addition of other shapes to create a repeatable pattern, resulting in designs that may appear complex but are relatively simple to produce.
Tessellation is not limited to basic geometric shapes, as demonstrated by the works of M.C. Escher. While the Islamic geometric design tradition typically avoids elements like fish and faces, it sometimes incorporates multiple shapes to create intricate patterns. This tradition, spanning over a millennium, has utilized fundamental geometry to produce intricate, decorative, and visually pleasing works, showcasing the potential of artistic intuition, creativity, dedication, and the use of a compass and ruler.
Geometry – The branch of mathematics that deals with the properties and relationships of points, lines, surfaces, and shapes. – In geometry class, we learned how to calculate the area of different shapes.
Patterns – Repeated designs or sequences that can be found in both art and mathematics. – The artist used geometric patterns to create a visually appealing mural.
Tessellation – An arrangement of shapes closely fitted together, especially of polygons in a repeated pattern without gaps or overlapping. – The floor was decorated with a tessellation of hexagons, creating a stunning visual effect.
Symmetry – A balanced and proportionate similarity found in two halves of an object, which are mirror images of each other. – The butterfly’s wings displayed perfect symmetry, making it a favorite subject for art students.
Designs – Plans or drawings produced to show the look and function of an object or work of art before it is made. – The architect’s designs incorporated both modern geometry and traditional elements.
Circle – A round plane figure whose boundary consists of points equidistant from a fixed center point. – In art class, we learned how to draw a perfect circle using a compass.
Grid – A network of evenly spaced horizontal and vertical lines used to organize elements in art and mathematics. – The artist used a grid to ensure that each section of the painting was proportionate.
Creativity – The use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness. – The math project encouraged creativity by allowing students to design their own geometric sculptures.
Shapes – The external form or appearance characteristic of someone or something; the outline of an area or figure. – We explored different shapes in art class, focusing on how they can convey emotions.
Abstraction – A style of art that uses shapes, colors, and forms to achieve its effect rather than depicting objects realistically. – The artist’s use of abstraction allowed viewers to interpret the painting in multiple ways.
