Artists have been using paper as a form of expression for thousands of years, through paper folding and intricate cutting techniques. Today, artists are redefining the art of paper.
Here are 24 contemporary paper artists inspired by Islamic geometry & pattern
A thread…
1/ Zubin Jhaveri is a Mumbai based paper sculptor and designer. After graduating from art college, he set out on a journey of self discovery and expression, experimenting with geometric paper sculptures
NEBULA artwork
Layered paper cut art with 25 layers of 300gsm paper.
2/ Rania Mousa creates paper artwork by repeating patterns. Inspired by Islamic geometry, origami and parametric design, she transforms sheets of paper into neat three-dimensional framed installations. Each piece is handmade with precision, patience and care.
3/ Studio Ibbini is an award-winning collaboration between Julia Ibbini and Stéphane Noyer creating works that intersect contemporary art, design and engineering. Based in Abu Dhabi, they create intricate, detailed works inspired by Islamic geometry, pattern & design
4/ Working at the intersection of art and science, @matthewshlian describes himself as a “paper engineer.” His use of both geometry and paper has defined his craft, with drawings, prints & sculpture that are unique in their manifestation
5/ Yossi Ben Abu is an artist based in San Francisco, California. Tossing has always had a fascination with geometry & mathematics, creating paper sculpture artworks
‘The Moment’ - 40”x50”x2.5” print, cut and hand folded paper.
Over 800 pieces.
6/ Bryn Edmonston is a self-taught artist specializing in colorful geometric layered paper cutouts, putting a contemporary twist on an ancestral art form. Her work is inspired by the tiling and plaster carvings of Southern Spain & North Africa…
7/ Lucy Cuts Paper is a self taught paper cut artist, who loves nothing more than to create unique pieces from paper. Her work is influenced by her surroundings and geometry in nature
8/ Zahra Ammara is a contemporary Islamic artist who specialises;uses in 3D paper sculptures. She loves the versatility and form that paper has to offer. In her own way, her expressions are cut and folded into her artwork.
This work is part of her Alchemy series
9/ Olga Skorokhod is a paper artist and sculptor. Her work is influenced by geometry and Islamic pattern. This laser cut paper work is titled dome.
10/ Anna Kruhelska is a visual artist and practising architect based in Lodz, Poland. Inspired by minimalism, architectural composition, geometry and origami Anna creates clean, crisp, often white-on-white framed wall installations.
11/ Bryn Edmonston is a self-taught artist specializing in colorful geometric layered paper cutouts, putting a contemporary twist on an ancestral art form. Her work is inspired by the tiling and plaster carvings of Southern Spain & North Africa…
12/ Zubin Jhaveri is a Mumbai based paper sculptor and designer. After graduating from art college, he set out on a journey of self discovery and expression, experimenting with creating paper sculptures.
13/ Studio M Artist is inspired by Islamic art and pattern, creating contemporary forms through paper sculptures and paper cutting. With a bold use of colour, the works stand out for their originality & boldness
14/ Daphne Lee is the artisan behind JUDiTH+ROLFE, she is a Singaporean-born Chinese paper artist who specializes in creating contemporary dimensional artwork out of on-edge paper strips. Her work is inspired by geometric patterns & nature
15/ British artist @zarahkhussain combines contemporary digital art with a training in hand drawn Islamic geometry. Her work encompasses animations made with code, interactive apps, painting, paper & sculpture
16/ Naomi J Kendall is a paper artist, who specialises in folded paper techniques, creating bold geometric designs that are influenced by Islamic pattern. Her use of colour creates incredible illusions
17/ Studio Ibbini is an award-winning collaboration between Julia Ibbini and Stéphane Noyer creating works that intersect contemporary art, design and engineering. Based in Abu Dhabi, they create intricate, detailed works inspired by Islamic geometry, pattern & design
18/ Gina Greene is a UK based paper cut Artist. She creates intricate cut works inspired by Geometry and Islamic pattern
19/ Miriam Fitzgerald Juskova is a visual artist originally from Slovakia, and now living in Ireland. She creates three-dimensional paper artwork using paper quilling techniques. Her work is inspired by her passion for mathematics and geometry, introducing a new visual language
20/ UK based artist @jennifa_nahar is fascinated by Islamic patterns. Through her work she challenges the possibilities of print and textiles. She talks about her experience as a printed textile practitioner, & interest in origami and paper sculptures
21/ For artist Ameet Hindocha, developing a multi-disciplinary practice with geometry at its core has allowed him to tap into an ancient but living tradition of design, and explore it with the tools & technology today. His work is inspired by the Islamic art & pattern
22/ Unaisah Nakudah us a Turkish paper cut Artist and paper sculptor. Her work is heavily influenced by the art of Islamic pattern and sacred geometry. She creates delicate, detailed paper cut geometric works
23/ Peter Keller is a Berlin based paper folding Artist. He experiments with paint, colour and texture to create bold vibrant pieces. His works are influenced by the intersection between science & art, geometry & Islamic pattern
24/ Juliana Bernell creates textured paper sculptures inspired by nature and human experiences. She explores geometry through her paper expressions, creating impactful pieces through experimenting with colour gradients
If you like this thread, check out our Islamic Art & Culture Digital Festival, happening online - 28 & 29 November.
At the festival, meet incredible artists & hear about their amazing work!
Mariam Astrulabi was a pioneering female Muslim scientist & astronomer, born in Syria during the 10th century. She is known for developing Astrolabes, an ancient astronomical computer for solving problems related to time & position of the sun & stars
A thread on Mariam Astrulabi
1/ Mariam al Astrulabi's remarkable contribution to the art of astrolabes has largely been ignored by the world. What she achieved in the 10th century consequently helped several generations of scientists to explore the concept of time and space.
Astrolabe @HSMOxford
@HSMOxford 2/ Astrolabes were beneficial in determining the position of the sun, moon, stars & the planets. They were used in astronomy, astrology & horoscopes. Muslims would specifically use it to find the Qibla, determine prayer times & the initial days of Ramadan and Eid
Did you know Mosque ceilings are designed to reflect the magnificence of the universe?
Here are spectacular details of 24 Mosque ceilings from around the world…
A thread…
1/ Jami Mosque, Andijan, Uzbekistan
The construction of the madrasah began in 1883 and lasted for 7 years. It has a gorgeous fretwork of wooden columns supporting a ceiling decorated with bright patterns made of a combination of geometrical ornaments & vegetal elements
Construction of the mosque started in 1603 and was finished in 1619. Built by the chief architect Mohammadreza Isfahani, during the reign of Shah Abbas I of Persia. Beautiful interior dome details
Ever wondered who paved the way for the age of algorithms?
It was a 9th-century Muslim genius, mathematician, geographer & astronomer, Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi - also known as the Father of Algebra
A thread on the incredible Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi…
1/ Even the term algorithm is Al-Khwarizmi translated into Latin!
The scientist and mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi lived from 780 to 850 AD in Persia and Iraq.
2/ Al-Khwarizmi's most significant contribution to mathematics was the development of algebra. His book, "Kitab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala" (The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing), introduced systematic methods for solving linear and quadratic equations.
Did you know that the Persian scholar of medicine, Ibn Sina (980-1037) suspected some diseases were spread by microorganisms.
To prevent human-to-human contamination, he came up with a method of isolating people for 40 days.
A thread on Ibn Sina & his impact on modern science…
1/ Ibn Sina, also known to the Latin West as Avicenna, was a Persian polymath and one of the most influential Islamic philosophers, physicians, and scientists of the medieval period. He was born in 980 CE in present-day Uzbekistan and passed away in 1037 CE in Iran.
2/ Ibn Sina's medical works had a profound impact on European medicine. His most renowned work in medicine is "The Canon of Medicine" (Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb), considered one of the most influential medical texts in history. It consists of five books & covers a range of medical topics
‘Traveling leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller’
- Ibn Battuta
The most famous explorer in the Muslim World, Ibn Battuta, travelled more than any other explorer in pre-modern history - around 117,000 km!
A thread on the 14th century explorer Ibn Battuta…
1/ Ibn Battuta was born in 1304 CE in Tangier, Morocco. His travelogue the Rihla is his most important work. His journeys in the Rihla lasted for a period of almost thirty years, covering nearly the whole of the known Islamic world & beyond.
2/ Ibn Battuta travelled more than any other explorer in pre-modern history, surpassing Zheng He with 50,000 km (31,000 mi) and Marco Polo with 24,000 km. His total distance travelled was approximately 117,000 km (73,000 mi) (15,000 mi).
Ismail al-Jazari, a Muslim inventor from the 12th century is known as the "father of robotics" due to his groundbreaking work in the field of automata, which are self-operating machines.
A thread on Ismail al-Jazari, engineering & robotics…
1/ While robotics is considered a relatively new field of science, with the public’s consensus that it is the creation of 20th-century scientists, it would be surprising to know that the field has its roots in the medieval era nearly a millennium ago, with Ismail Al Jazari
2/ Ismail Al Jazari gained fame for his extraordinary inventions, encompassing a wide spectrum of marvels. His repertoire included robots programmed to provide guests with towels, programmable on-off switches for fountains, automated mechanical clocks & much more!
A Candle Clock from a copy of al-Jazaris treatise on automata