It's easy to let the images we see in the mass media color our impressions of the world and the people in it. In fact, great strides must still be made towards extending the public's understanding of Islam, the world's second-largest religion, beyond the countless misconceptions that surround it. As a Muslim American myself, I couldn't have been more thrilled to see the Walters Art Gallery making its own step towards promoting this sense of understanding. Speaking the Word of God: Illuminated Korans may seem like a small gesture to some, but to me, it's so much more.
The power of art has proven time and time again to transcend the limits of mere words. Just look at Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Van Gogh's Starry Night; after all these years, these masterpieces continue to captivate hearts and minds everywhere. Why is that? The answer is simple: art makes us feel. Love it or hate it, art draws upon what makes us human in order to bring us together. At the same time, art is the frankest form of self-expression. It is more than just paint on canvas or ink on paper; it is the artist -- in his or her very purest form -- infused in every inch of the work. What we create tells us infinitely more about each other, both as a people and as individuals, than words could ever say. It's the unspoken unifier.
Islamic calligraphic art, however, breaks the mold, and seems to be in a realm of its own. Artistry is inextricably bound to written word, giving rise to a wholly distinctive form of expression. Speaking the Word is an incredible display of unique cultural and temporal identity as well as a sincere, unwavering devotion to the faith that unites more than 1.2 billion people. To Muslims, the Koran is the scripture which guides every second of each day of their lives, and through artistic representation of it, we are given a glimpse into what Islam truly is.
Neatly tucked away in the Manuscript Gallery on the third floor, 22 Korans from various parts of the Muslim world are showcased, tracing the evolution of calligraphy from the 9th to 19th centuries. While the Koran has been translated into countless languages, Muslims read and recite it in the original Arabic because it is regarded as the precise word of God spoken directly to the prophet Muhammad. Calligraphic representation of these words has become a prominent feature of Islamic art because depictions of Muhammad - or
any other prophets, including Abraham, Moses and Jesus -- are strictly forbidden in order to prevent idolatry. Consequently, to celebrate their faith and the ways in which it influences their own identity, the very words of the Koran itself are used as a form of artistic expression.
The exhibit illustrates the transformation of Koranic calligraphy from the geometric, widely spaced Kufic script of 9th-century Egypt, to the sweeping Maghribi script of 12-century Spain and sub-Saharan Africa. These early texts are primarily ink on parchment with very few decorative embellishments, instead focusing on the precise practice of calligraphy. However, as you move through the manuscripts, you witness a trend towards more dramatically ornate works. Korans from 17th-century Turkey, as well as Iran and North India are prime examples of this, integrating the use of paint and gold to create intricate patterns. Here, script is combined with ornamentation in a scene of breathtaking beauty. Gold shines in harmony with bright blues, reds and purples, uniting the splendor of the natural world with the serenity of spirituality. These words that serve as the foundation upon which the faith of Islam is built are truly radiant.
Whether the pages are 6 feet long or 2 inches long, these Korans all convey the same sentiment: the genuine devotion Muslims feel towards their faith, and the peace they find within it. Through the ages, artists in the Muslim world have used this distinct art form to portray their individual styles, some cultures through the calligraphy itself, and others through elaborate ornamentation. Each approach is art is in its own right, capable of evoking a myriad emotions in the viewer and moving Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Through the sheer attention and artistry put into every letter of every word of these transcriptions, we see Islam in its most genuine, earnest form, and the heart of every Muslim shines through. Whether you understand Arabic or not, these texts are dramatic illustrations of the importance of artistic expression as a means of both promoting knowledge and uniting us as a people in a way only art is capable of.
