Islamic illumination - known as Tezhip in Turkish, is a decorative art using gold pigments to beautify the Qur’an & manuscripts. The fine detail takes dedication & patience
Today, the art of Tezhip continues
Here are 21 artists sharing artistic techniques in tezhip
A thread…
1/ Tezhip was first practiced by the Uyghur’s in the 9th century. The Seljuks brought it to Anatolia, & the art culminated during the Ottomans. Mameluke artists in the 15th century developed it & advances were seen in Central Asia
A process video by Turkish artist Berre Filoglu
2/ Artist Hatice Karaman is based in Istanbul, Turkey. Traditionally trained in the art of Tezhip, she is committed to continuing & preserving this artform for future generations.
See Hatice at work…
3/ Turkish Artist Zuleyha Karaca specialises in the art of tezhip & Islamic illumination. Here, Zuleyha presents a great example of shading in gold & finely outlining details…
4/ Iranian artist Mina Kazemiyan is skilled in the delicate and detailed art of tezhip. Here, she demonstrates the delicate fine black outlines to provide definition to the work…
5/ Turkish artist Handan Gülserin is an expert in the art of tezhip. Here she shares her detailed skill of effortlessly painting details with gold pigments.
Bazen karanlıktır, göz gözü görmez,
Bazen karanlık değildir, öz özü görmez...
6/ Beautiful details from Iranian traditional tezhip
شب تاریک و سنگستان و مو مست
قدح از دست مو افتاد و نشکست
نگهدارنده اش نیکو نگهداشت
و گرنه صد قدح نفتاده بشکست #باباطاهر
7/ Iranian artist Mina Kazemiyan is skilled in the delicate and detailed art of tezhip. Here, she demonstrates creating shadows using gold and metallic pigments to provide definition to the work.
8/ Turkish artist İlknur GÜÇLÜ specialises in Tezhip. Here is a work in progress showing details of the use of colour to create wonderful definition…
9/ Artist @EsraAlhamalArt is a specialist in Islamic illumination & biomorphic pattern. Here she shows us how to make real gold pigment shine by forming an indentation. This little trick makes the dots look like they are little jewels…
10/ Turkish artist K.Bayraktar is trained in the traditional art of Tezhip, here she shares delicate details of precision, painting bold colour to fill between the luminous gold…
11/ Turkish artist Gul Cerik is a specialist in Tezhip. Here we see precision details to add definition to the gold pigments and illumination…
12/Iranian artist Maryam Ghafari is inspired by poetry
«أحببتك وكأنك آخر أحبتي على وجه الأرض،
و عذبتني كأنني آخر أعدائك على وجه الأرض...»
تو را دوست داشتم،
چنانکه گویی تو آخرین عزیزانِ من بر روی زمینی؛
و تو رنجم دادی،
چنان که گویی من آخرین دشمنانِ تو
بر روی زمینم
13/ Turkish artist Nurhan Barutcular is trained in the traditional art of Tezhip. Here is detailed work in progress…
14/ Iranian artist Maryama is not only trained in the art of tezhip, but also a psychologist. She uses this traditional artform as a tool for talking about issues connected to psychology, including trauma. Here she shares details of her exquisite work in progress…
15/ Turkish artist Perdah Sanat Atölyesi is an expert in the art of Tezhip. Here, we are able to see the fine lines and precision in pattern in this work in progress…
16/ Iranian artist T. Mousavi is an expert in the art of tezhip, Here is a work in progress, highlighting the precise work and patience required to outline details…
17/ Turkish artist Gul Cerik specialises in the art of tezhip. Here is a look at the technique of finely applying white as a highlighter to add further luminosity and depth the the illumination…
18/ Artist @NagihanSeymour is a specialist in tezhip. Here she shares her favourite step in the artistic process, burnishing the gold pigment…
19/ Iranian artist Nasim Khadevi shares tezhip work in progress, painting illumination for Islamic verses…
رنگگذاری بندهای اسلیمی
20/ Turkish artist Fatma Özçay is a master of the art of tezhip. Here is an exquisite example of a work in progress, meticulously painting fine details…
21/ Turkish artist Ayse Raziye Ozalp creates miniatures in the art of tezhip. Ayse is particularly interested in the natural world, here is a work in process video of a spider…
Hayvanları çok sevdiğim doğrudur.Örümcekleri bile😉🕷🕸
Shah-i-Zinda is one Samarkand’s most beloved sites, which contains some of the richest tile work in the world. The magnificent architecture draws inspiration from multiple periods & styles, taking you back through time & across cultures
A thread on the beauty of Shah-i-Zinda…
1/ The Shah-i-Zinda ensemble includes mausoleums, mosques & other ritual buildings of 11-15th & 19th centuries. The name Shah-i-Zinda (meaning The living king) is connected with the legend that Qutham ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH is buried here
📷 Ash Diler
2/ Shah-i-Zinda is a world-famous example of a continuously constructed historical site. Over 1,000 years ago, it was founded with a single religious monument. Between the 11th & 19th centuries, mosques & mausoleums were continuously added
From Spain to Azerbaijan, to Germany to Bosnia, Europe has some of the finest mosques.
The presence of Islam in Europe is not a new phenomenon, with Muslims residing in the continent as early as the 8th century.
Here are 24 mosques across Europe #JummahMubarak
A thread…
1/ Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque, Mostar, Bosnia
Dates back to 1617 & features numerous multicolored windows, a minaret with a lookout spot & a courtyard with several tombs. Although the original Ottoman mosque was heavily damaged during the attacks of the 1990s it has been restored
2/ The Shah Jahan Mosque, Woking, England
This is the first purpose built mosque that was built in the UK.
It was built in 1889 by Dr Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner, an orientalist of Jewish descent from Hungary. Money was donated by Begum Shah Jahan, the Nawab Begum of Bhopal.
Welcome to Al-Mutanabbi Street the ‘Book Market of Baghdad’, where books remain in the street at night because Iraqis say:
“The reader does not steal and the thief does not read.”
A thread on the rich heritage of the historic book market on Al-Mutanabbi Street…
1/ Al-Mutanabbi Street is the historic center of Baghdad bookselling, that dates back to the time of the Abbasids. Located near the old quarter of Baghdad, Al-Mutanabbi Street was Baghdad’s first book traders’ market.
2/ Al-Mutanabbi Street has been, since time immemorial, the historic heart and soul of the Baghdad literary and intellectual community.
Libraries developed in the Islamic Golden Age due to a commitment to literacy & seeking knowledge. One of the oldest libraries in the world Al-Qarawiyyin library, was founded by a Muslim woman, more than 12 centuries ago!
A thread on the greatest libraries in Islamic history…
1/ Al-Qarawiyyan Library, Fez, Morocco
Founded by a Muslim woman, Fatima El-Fihriya in 859, it is one of the oldest libraries in the world & the oldest library in Africa. It also holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest working library, & is still in use today…
1.1/ The Al-Qarawiyyan Library houses a collection of 4,000 rare books & ancient Arabic manuscripts written by renowned scholars of the region. The manuscripts include a 9th century version of the Quran and a manuscript on Islamic jurisprudence written by philosopher Averroes.
Designed to imitate the heavens, Islamic gardens are lush oases of scent, water and sacred geometry. They are a cool place of rest and a reminder of paradise.
Here are 20 beautiful Islamic gardens from across the world…
A thread….
1/ Gardens @CambCentMosque
A harmonious balance between Islamic structure & relaxed English herbaceous and naturalistic planting. A concern for sustainability, biodiversity & insect-friendly planting has also been a constant theme in the selection of plants.
@CambCentMosque 2/ Jardin Majorelle, Morocco
The garden, started in 1924, contains a psychedelic desert mirage of 300 plant species from five continents.
The colour blue (al-azraq) in Islamic tradition often signifies the impenetrable depths of the universe, and turquoise blue is thought to have mystical qualities.
Here are 24 beautiful Islamic buildings & mosques, designed using the colour blue…
A thread…
1/ Jalil Khayat Mosque, Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq
The largest mosque in the city, it was begun by Jalil Khayat who died in 2005 & completed in 2007 by his sons in memory of their father. The blue style resembles the Mosque of Muhammad Ali in Cairo & Blue mosque in Istanbul
2/ Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Sohar, Oman
Inaugurated in 2018 & influenced by Persian & central Asian blue Islamic architectural styles with touches of traditional Omani architectural elements that make it unique