Geometric Ornament in Islamic Art - Yıldız Demiriz

All work aimed at decoration on architectural products and all kinds of utilitarian objects is referred to as ornamentation. In environments where Islamic culture is dominant, a dense ornamentation program is encountered. The decoration designed by the ornamentation master contains reproducible modules that can be applied from narrow spaces to wide areas. This situation, especially concerning geometric ornamentation, can change according to the nature of the application material. It is observed that a common taste in ornamentation has formed across different geographical regions and time periods through design schemes that can be repeated on architectural elements produced with wood, brick, stone, etc. Stars and polygons created with broken lines repeating at appropriate angles have been applied in all surface ornamentations. The repetition of forms reveals the concept of infinite continuation, which is seen as a characteristic feature of Islamic ornamentation. Hexagons created with equilateral triangles, and motifs that continue infinitely with stars created from hexagons, have formed the most suitable type of decoration for the ornamentation of large surfaces encountered in Islamic architecture. Prof. Dr. Yıldız Demiriz's book "Geometric Ornamentation in Islamic Art" is one of the first catalog studies in which geometric motifs used in the Islamic world—both past and present—are identified and shown together with examples of buildings or works. In the book, the introduction and grouping of motifs have been taken as a basis without imposing limitations regarding period, material, or technique. The study, which serves as a reference source for Islamic Art research, has been revised for its new edition, and a few additions deemed necessary have been made. (From the Promotional Bulletin)