Final answer:
Islamic art is inspired by the religious significance of calligraphy, the symbolism of the arabesque, and regional artistic traditions. Calligraphy represents the divine word of Allah and is used across many art forms, while geometric and vegetative patterns reflect the infinite nature of God and avoid idolatry. These elements are evident in architecture, pottery, and textiles throughout Islamic history.
Step-by-step explanation:
Inspiration of Islamic Art
The inspiration for Islamic arabesques, calligraphy, and decorative designs primarily comes from the Islamic World's emphasis on the spirituality and omnipresence of God. These elements were ubiquitous in medieval Islamic art and are evident in architecture, pottery, textiles, and other decorative arts. Islamic calligraphy is particularly significant as it represents the divine word of Allah, often manifested in Quranic verses that permeate various forms of art. The arabesque is another dominant motif, symbolizing the transcendent and infinite nature of God, often stylized with geometrical floral designs. Meanwhile, themes of nature and geometry strongly influenced by earlier artistic traditions such as the Coptic, Sassanian, and Byzantine styles were adapted into striking patterns that avoid the depiction of human figures, which is often considered idolatrous in Islamic culture. However, human and animal depictions do appear in secular Islamic art.
Motifs like geometric and vegetative designs are prevalent in regions with Islamic historical presence, apparent in buildings like the Alhambra or the intricate metalwork from the Safavid dynasty. These motifs often adorn structures like mosques, along with minarets and religious inscriptions. The usage of calligraphy is not just limited to religious texts but extends to secular objects such as coins and metalwork.
Developments in calligraphy led to the adoption of scripts such as Kufic from the city of Kufa, emphasizing the beautiful proportions of the written word. In high-end manuscripts, ornamental markers for verses took on elaborate circular designs, sometimes highlighted with gold illumination. Thus, function and artistry were gracefully combined to showcase the reverence for language and the sacred text of the Qur'an.