Sacred Design: The Art of Arabesque
The term Arabesque is not as clearly defined as one would think, and depending on where you are in the world, it could mean something very different. In Egypt, Arabesque is commonly used to refer to the geometric patterns that decorated everything from mosques to furniture, and of course, the intricate woodwork found in mashrabeya. In the West, the term can sometimes refer to the Roman-inspired decorative arts that became popular throughout Europe during the Renaissance.
All too often it has used to denote so called ‘oriental’ or Middle Eastern art as a whole, including music and dance. But in essence, Arabesque is all about designs that incorporate scrolling, repetitive patterns that will often feature natural motifs like plants (and sometimes animals) interlacing and flowing in and out of each other to create an incredibly detailed and mesmerizing whole.
Its origins can be traced back to the decorative scroll designs of early Islamic art when mosques and manuscripts were embellished with delicately interweaving floral patterns. The inspiration and meaning behind these patterns have been attributed to many things, from the unity of nature, of the heavens and the earth, to the mathematical and scientific; in the eyes of early Islamic culture, these were all divine and sacred forms of thought and expression, even worship. They represented not only unity, but the infinite nature of the universe. The same forms and principles, symmetry and rhythm, structure and balance, can also be seen in Islamic calligraphy and architecture.
Like most traditional crafts, the skills needed to produce such complex and detailed work were passed down from one generation to the next, and from the Fatimid era onwards, Egypt became a major hub for the production of Arabesque designs. The art form evolved from the plant and animal-based designs that the Persians had perfected, to the geometric patterns we see all over Egypt and that have now become almost synonymous with Islamic design.
Arabesque art has become a major attraction for tourists visiting Egypt and other countries in the region. If you walk through the streets and narrow alleyways of Old Cairo, you’ll find elements of Arabesque design everywhere you look, from the ornate building facades to the withering wooden windows and doors. Patterned tiles and carved marble decorate the palaces where the Sultans and Khedives used to reside, mimicking the precise chaos of the natural world around us. It’s an art form that pays tribute to the purity and perfection of nature and expresses the deep reverence we once held for it.
We’re lucky to have so much Arabesque all over Cairo, and the Museum of Islamic Art is a wonderland of Arabesque beauty that’s well worth exploring. Khan el Khalili has specialized artisans who work solely on pieces that follow the principles of Arabesque design, and there are a number of organizations working to preserve arabesque art as a unique art form. It's definitely a part of our Egyptian and Middle Eastern culture that is worth taking a close look at.