1st International Workshop on Geometric Patterns in Islamic Art

23-29 September 2013, Istanbul

Introduction

The 1st International Workshop on Geometric Patterns In Islamic Art titled “Historical Development and New Trials”, organized jointly by the Istanbul Design Center and the Ümraniye District Münicipality of Istanbul, was conducted on 23-29th of September, 2013.

After the opening panel session focusing on the subject of historical development and modern trials of Islamic geometric patterns, the program continued for 7 days with contributions by the expert speakers from various countries.

The program was held in three parts under the themes “History and Sources”, “Classical Methods”, and “Modern applications” and consisted of presentations, hands-on workshops, exhibitions and visits to relevant sites and museums.

Description and aims of the workshop

Islamic geometric patterns can be seen all over the Islamic world on numerous buildings and objects. They can be found on minbars, mihrabs, doors, windows, bookbindings, manuscripts, illuminations and on many other examples of religious and non-religious objects. These complex patterns are witness of a highly developed artistic and scientific culture.

Islamic geometric patterns have hitherto been studied in vastly different ways by researchers with a variety of backgrounds, including but not limited to: specialists in Islamic culture and history, historians of art and architecture, historians of science, and mathematicians. There has not been much interaction between these groups, although each of them could benefit from all others.

The aim of this international workshop is to bring researchers of these different backgrounds together, in order to study Islamic geometric patterns in an interdisciplinary way and to develop modes of cooperation. By bringing mathematicians, historians of mathematics, geometricians, art historians, historians of architecture, architects, artists, artisans together, the aim is to create a synergistic common ground, where theoretical and practical knowledge will be gathered for new insights or new cooperation projects in this field.

Important subjects of the program:
1. Islamic geometric patterns in Istanbul
2. Islamic geometric patterns during the Seljuk Empire

The one week program will consists of three main parts:
Part 1: The History and Sources of Islamic Geometric Patterns
Part 2: Classical applications and methods of Islamic Geometric Patterns
Part 3: Modern applications and methods of Islamic Geometric Patterns

Part 1: History and Sources

This section is the historical development and surviving sources related to Islamic geometric patterns.

Part 2: Classical applications

The classical applications and methodology of Islamic geometric patterns. Relevant subjects are: tiles, mosaics, woodwork and craft, metalwork, bookbindings and manuscript illuminations. Also, classical production methods and tools.

Part 3: Modern tools and applications

The modern tools and applications of Islamic geometric patterns.

Modern art inspired by the Islamic geometric patterns. i.e Escher, Penrose etc.
Modern tools for drawing and reconstruction of Islamic geometric patterns: advanced computer software for reconstruction of medieval patterns, etc., of-the-shelf (i.e.: Geometers Sketchpad, Autocad ) or dedicated packages.
Modern tools and methods for production of Islamic geometric patterns from various materials: Computer Aided Design, Computer Aided Manufacturing, 3D printing, Lasercutting etc.
Examples of modern industrial and architectural applications.

The program consisted of presentations and hands-on workshops.

At the end of the program, which is the first program that Turkey dedicated specifically to the Islamic Geometric Patterns, the event proceedings will be compiled and published as a book.