This page is an overview of the initial thoughts that set the basis of my doctorate research. My academic journey included various experiences from sitting with Ibn Arabi reading group in London, to learning from master artisans in Morocco. The journey took fabulous turns which enriched both my practice-based research and my self. Below is more of a story-line of the journey’s beginning… For more “formal” brief about the research check out my Academia page and the link to the full electronic versions of thesis at the end of the page.
Long time ago, Muslims’ life emerged from the strong connection between spirituality and faith. Art used to express this connection, layering profound dimensions within decorative and spatial forms... With time, this connection started to break... and what we see today is soul-less imitations of the past... One can trace the same geometry used in sculptures, interior floors, all the way to architecture... Young Muslim designers include the same patterns on their work in an attempt to “islamise” it! This phenomenon has been described as “attraction-repulsion’ symptom; so the current situation is divided between two conflicting sides: traditionalists who are too attached to history to see an evolving image of it and modernists who encourage extremely new concepts for creative expression.
So I am questioning through my research if there is any place in between? Can Muslim artists/ designers create innovative works that revive this rapport with spirituality and other hidden dimensions?
Through my PhD journey, I became to believe that in many levels, my research represents who I am today, and what I stand for. I am a Muslim designer, curator and teacher. I practice my religion, however I am immersed in a globalized world ... I am still looking in the creative field for basis that outlines my identity, and an expression that represents who I am today.
My intentions were to summarise a set of principles and examine its validity to be a basis for innovative and creative expression of the religion. I recorded my creative process through visual reflections that go hand in hand with the written text of my research. For research methodology, I adopted a collaborative approach to investigate my research topic, by curating multi-disciplinary groups that will put theory into practice. This will allow my research to speak of a “collective voice” rather than an individual one.
Being a teacher myself I believe that education has the power to create a change in perceptions and mindsets and perhaps this set of principles could be adapted in curriculums of Islamic art and design... I am hoping that my research could spark future opportunities in design education.