Islam and the Religious Arts

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by Patricia L. Baker

Continuum Publishing

Due/Published May 2004, 288 pages, cloth

ISBN 0826456057

Aimed at educationalists and students interested in the world of Islam, this work reveals something of the rich variety and diversity of the religious arts of Islam in particular, an aspect of Islamic art which still remains misunderstood and under-researched. Rather than concentrating solely on the Middle East, it includes examples of visual expression from West Africa to South-east Asia and beyond, from the first century of Islamic history t o the present day, while drawing the readers attention t o the enduring impact of 19th century Western perceptions of Islamic art as traditional and decorative, pertaining more to the world of crafts, rather than that of fine art. The relationship between Islamic theological opinion, the artist-maker and the object is explored in this discussion of religious artistic expression, from early Islamic calligraphy a n d the mosque to contemporary Iranian poster art, from prayer rugs to Sufi performance and modern Islamic dress.