From teacher to author...'Discovering Islamic Art'.
I first became an author in 2000 when my book 'The Children's Encyclopaedia of Arabia' was published. I had an opportunity to visit the Aramco schools in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia talking about it with the children, teachers and staff. My book was very enthusiastically received and from that time I formed my relationship with Aramco ExPats which has continued ever since. When I retired to England I was still very interested in the Islamic world, and courses being run at the British Museum caught my eye. I enrolled for the one on Islamic Art and throughout the course we were thoroughly exposed to the history and beauty of Islamic Art, by some very prestigious lecturers, such as Dr. Sheila Canby who went on to head up the exhibition now in residence at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. In recent years collections of Islamic Art have been the subject of much renewed interest, and magnificently stocked galleries are now part of the museum scene in London, Paris, New York, Washington DC, Copenhagen, Toronto and many of the Gulf countries. However when I visited these collections I noted how little there was in the museum bookshops or libraries anywhere to help children engage with the subject and for parents to extend the experience of a museum visit. So, with the help of a researcher, Shaha Parpia, who I met on the course, we set about distilling the many great tomes on the subject so that it would be understandable for children. It is a subject that spans a millennia-and-a-half covering a wide geographical area so it was no easy task, but I hope the finished result achieves the aim of opening a door for children and their parents to appreciate the beauty of this subject.
My book takes the three main strands of Islamic art, Geometric patterns, Arabesques and Calligraphy and shows the different ways that these are used. Mosques and other religious buildings, have been the subject of love and craftsmanship using these means of decoration over the centuries and some are amongst the most famous buildings in the world. In addition all manner of objects, Pottery, carpets, tiling, arms and armour and books are decorated with these themes. Carpets and scientific instruments were greatly sought after in Europe, so I also try to show the influence of Islamic objects on the Western world. One section called 'The spread of knowledge' shows how the production of books, with detailed illustrations, dealing with medical matters, plant life and astronomy were used in the west for many centuries after they were produced as there was nothing better. In order for children to enjoy my book, I have put fun and creative activities in for them to do relating to each page of information. Children today also are wedded to their laptops and tablets to gain information, so I have also added links to websites that can be explored. So what are my hopes for my book? Art serves many purposes, drawing people in and bringing something extra to their world. Islamic art is for everyone to share and appreciate and hopefully is one way to create and more open and tolerant society. I would love to see my book used by children around the world, so maybe you could help by donating a copy to a school where you live and, 'inshallah', let the beauty of Islamic Art speak for itself to a wide audience everywhere. Discovering Islamic Art is published by Medina Publishing, ISBN 9781909339040.
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United StatesContributed by Mary Beardwood