Manifestation of Islamic Art in the New Building of The Central Library
The appreciation messages received from the distinguished professors, skilled men and authorities of the country by the personnel of the project, are good proofs of the success of the group's energitic members.
Mr Ayeneh Chiyan explains the reason of choosing arabesque design in the knot art - work and the quality of the surfaces, and forms' lines/ He says "Although, it is said that the arabesque art dates back to the time before Islam, but Muslim artists have applied this art to show their faith, and also Isalmic unification. They have even been more successful than the artists previous to them.
The existence of arabesque art-works in "Qasr Ul Hamra" placed in Granada(Spain), teaching painting and calligraphy together with the arabesque and Khatai art-works in the past centuries the existence of arabesque designs in the art-works of painters including: "Kamaluddin Behzad" and "Aqa Mirak", and also the role of this art in creating the tilework structure of the Islamic mosques, persuaded us, in an again creation, to grant a meaningful and unified elegant picture and design in the porticos of the Holy Shrine of the Eighth Imam of the Shi'ite Muslims of the world, where is actually a place of pilgrimage for millions devotees of the Immaculate Imam (A.S.).
We have made utmost use of arabesqued art in our work to demonstrate Iranian-Islamic senses. The desings applied in Dar-ur-Rahmah portico are vivid evidences for this claim. Every place wherin the painting, golden cover and plaster - work have been applied, a combination of Iranian, and arabesque art has granted an eye-catching and unforgetable gift for observer.
The line, surface and form, according to symmetrical, elegant and parallel sizes, have converted the colour and designs into a meaningful world. Seven main colours have beautified these unique tile-works. The plaster-mouldings, enjoying an exceptional combination, have been fixed on the surface in a depth just like the designs applied in the period of the Safavid dynasty, but with some changes in new designs, like substituting tuberose and dandelion flowers with various nature. Applying Kufi, Thuth and Nastaliq scripts in these art-works have beautified this complex.
Reporter:
Which parts of the project have your group endeavoured to accomplish?
Ayeneh Chiyan:
As I said before, this group is working in the Dar-Ur-Rahmah and Dar-Al-Hedayah porticos, the new library of the Astan Quds Razavi, amphitheatre hall and reading room of the library.
After introductory explanations granted by Mr. Ayeneh Chiyan, we decided to have a look at the workshops where the project was implemented. It was then that I witnessed a wonderful complex, full of concealed secrets, and explicit points. Actually, the power of artist who is our guidance to this world of faith-gnostic knowledge and love. Bushes, lines and arabesque designs have been unified together in such a way that one would believe they have a common spirit, and designs and colours have brought message from the eternal heaven (paradise).
The artist has endeavoured to overlook the limited mental border of the human,and tried to create an eternal art-work between spectator, design and picture. And he has actually succeeded in accomplishing it. The visitor observing these designs, will be taken to a land where there is a blessing superior to this beautiful, and material world. It is realy a lovely and poetically trip in designs and colours inspired by the faith principles of Islam, to a world beyond imagination.
Dar-Ur-Rahmah portico, was our first place to vist. And in front of us there rest a picture, decorated with plaster, colour and meaningful designs, which have been painted on the wall. This tableau titeld "The Guidance Light with the Five Holy Ones".
About this beautiful tableau, Mr. Ayenh chiyan says:The tableau is a pictured of a bright lamp.The work (La) and the holy name of Prophet of Islam(S.A.W.)-, have been painted above the lamp, and on the blaze of this lamp proportionately.
The flower of lamp connects the body of the lamp to the lamp-chimney. And it contains the holy word of "Ali (A.S). The word of "Zulfiqar" - the sword of Imam Ali(A.S.) - has been painted next to the mentioned holy name. The holy word of "Fatemah(A.S.) can be seen on the main body of the lamp.
The movements applied in the arabesque design have beautified this unification. The holy name of "Hasan (A.S)" has been painted inside the lamp. A tent can be observed on the foot of the lamp. The holy word of "Husain (A.S.)" has been painted on both sides of the mentioned tent. On the lowest part of the lamp, two wings of an angel have been painted, half of which is in red colour, as a symbol of martyrdom, and the other half is in bright blue colour which means a secret of victory. The blue light is in fact a light reflection of the martyr's blood.
Also, 72 small wings can be seen around the mentioned two wings, which are the symbols of 72 followers of Imam Husain (A.S.) who were martyred in the tragical event of Karbala.Four trees have been painted on both sides of the tent, whose leaves are full of spring blossoms. The five-leaf petals, observed on these trees, are in fact a symbol of the Five Holy Ones, i-e, - Mohammad (S.A.W.),Ali (A.S.), Fatemah (A.S.),Hasan (A.S.) and Husain (A.S.).
The general facade is in such a way that one would believe that the Zuljinah(the horse of Imam Husain (A.S.))has returned to the tent after the martyrdom of the Imam (A.S.), in a state of depression and grief. The light created from combining colours, has circumscribed the whole of the mentioned tableau. The observer will see in the middle of the lamp, a light diffused around. Furthermore, the spiritual mode of the tableau is completly clear.
The citron, and knotty painting - works have decorated around the mentioned tableau, which is in fact the process of fulfilling the design.
Mr Ayeneh Chiyan adds: "The art-work width in Dar-Ur-Rahman(1) covers an area of about 750 square meters.This process has been completed now. An area of about 1000 aquare meters have been allocated for the project of constructing the Dar-Ur-Rahman(2) portico.The style of the period of the Safavid dynasty, an embossed tabeau known as "Inlaid tableau", and also "mirror-works", have been accopmlished in these two places. Then we go to the amphitheatres hall, and the other parts of the new library of Astan Quds Razavi. The artists of the Painting-Art Department of the Organization of Developing and Constructing the Area Around the Holy Shrine, endeavour continuously to decorate walls and ceilings with beautiful arabesque designs.
An area of about 70 square meters, have been painted and decorated in the amphiteatre hall of the library. Applying azure, and bright blue colours in painting these places,and also constructing special skylights in the form of Islamic and "Katayee" designs, have demonstrated a collection of a peaceful and comfortable space for spectators. The holy words from Glorious Qur'an, Holy Prophet of Islam(S.A.W.) and Imam Ali(A.S.) have been gilded in the pillars around the tableaux.
The artists are fixing the distinguished sentence of "Learning knowledge is obligatory for all Muslim men and women", which is one of the famous and life-giving traditions of Islam, inside a lattice tableau placed at the southern side of the hall. The design around the tableau contains various pictures. A deer can be observed in the design around the tableau, in whose eyes spectators can see a flower. Observing this deer, one would believe that it has been converted into flower after observing Imam Reza (A.S.), and being saved by the Holy Imam (A.S.).
The citron design painted around the deer's head, is in fact an evidence of successfully accomplishing an arabesque movement, which contains the phrase" "O, thou,Guarantor of Deer" or "Ya Zamin Ahoo", -(this is a title given to Imam Reza (A.S.), In fact, it is a narrative that a deer sought shelter in Imam Reza(A.S), to save its life). There are grape leaves, painted amidst this writing as a sign of showing the way of Imam Reza's(A.S) martyrdom. The holy title of Imam Reza (A.S), i-e "Ya Zamin Ahoo" has been repeated in the whole form and margin of the tableau.
The main entrance of the new library is another place for granting the grand and wonderful art-work of Khorasan artists.
The design of one to three (inverted dish), has been painted on golden ground. The designs of engraving and china-layer, 1mm to 2mm thick, applied on the entrance, are in fact a symbol of the sun, and light which bestow a hopeful entrance, on spectators. A grand and large chandelier to complete the light will be fixed and installed in this place. The entrance of this place, and the other sections of the library will be painted in blue, and inside the adjacent rooms in cream.
Those, who are busy to accomplish painting-art project, believe that, applying these colours is an effective factor which affectionately influence people. These artists believe that, the blue colour is peaceful, and the other colours persuade mankind to move and endeavour. The best artists in calligraphy, applying their art in the amphitheatre hall of the new library of Astan Quds Razavi, have accompanied the Painting Art Department, by their art. Some of the sentences, written by this group, are as follows:
"There is no God but Allah - the Exalted", "Mohammad (S.A.W.) is the Messenger of Allah - the Exalted", "Neither East, Nor West, Only Islamic Republic" and, "The holy name (Allah) is the best starting". The holy tradition "Those whose master am I, so Ali(A.S.) is their master" has been painted on the whole ceiling of the amphitheater hall, on the square ceiling decorated with painted circles in green, blue and pink colours.
The walls are an artistic, and eternal combination of stone, and tile. The ground has been decorated with coloured plaster -moulding. The margins around the plaster-works have been gilded and painted in the systematic and arranged colours of blue, pink, green and white. The reading hall of the new library (men section) is another place for accomplishing the designs of painting and decoration.
Mr. Ayeneh Chiyan say's: Some portraits of the distinguished and famous people of Iran and Khorasan province including the portrait of Imam Khomeini(R.A.)- the late Founder of Islamic Revolution in Iran-will be installed in this hall.
And our group is going to make ready this hall with the mentioned tableaux. Going forward, more beautiful samples of the faithful artists of Khorasan province can be observed in te library. Some lattice-works which have been changed into the Holy phrases of "Allah O Akbar- Allah, the Exalted", and "Mohammad(S.A.W.) is the Holy messenger of Allah", can be observed on the decorated places of the library.
Furthermore, various art-works including seven-colour art work, Koshteh Bori, plaster work and inlaid, and coloured mirror-works applied in the beautiful knots and the ceiling adjacent to the stairs in various colours which personify the height as the wings of a peaceful, and life-giving bird, have beautified the building.
It is really difficult to pass and overlook these wonderful art-works. And your keen eyes will gaze on these skillfully and elegantly art-works, so that you can not find a word to express your feelings.
If you had a heart wide as the wide desert, or a thirsty mouth like that wide land in summer, or the enthusiastic voice of the fruitful brooks of the coasts of the Caspian Sea, and the snowy mountains of Azerbaijan waved in your heart, the combination of pictures, colours and designs, and precision of artists would astonish you so that you would patiently unify the hardship of the south heat (hot temperature) with the beautiful spring of the north, and then you would appreciate this effort and endeavour to create wonderful-art-works, in every accent and language of yours.
You will see here the factor of rousing gentle artists to innovate intellectual art, which is in fact the divine speech of the Glorious Quran and its pleasant tune, together with the art of calligraphists, metalists and engravers, and also the art of artists in the fields of plaster-work, mirror work, and tile-work.
Observing this work, full of wonderful art-works, you will find art souvenirs of worthy flourishing Islamic art-works painted on the Shaykh Lotfullah mosque in Isfahan, and the monument of Taj Mahal in India and many of the other art-works of Muslim skillful artists and builders.
You ascend in the rebirth of arabesque art applied in the meaningful twisting of pictures painted in the frames and vases reposed on the walls and ceilings. The grounds in brown, pink, bright and dark blue colours, grant you allusions to the paradise.
In this monument, you will experience undescribable pleasure to be in adjacent to the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.), where it is exactly the shelter of all lovers of Islam. You leave there, but your heart still remains there. Admirer of elegance will never leave elegance.
And, now, it is time to bid farewell to Mr. Ayeneh Chiyan. He asks us inviting all artists in the country to express their view. Because, such a kind of great work needs a national partnership.
He says: The Painting-Art Department of the Organization of Developing and Constructing the Area Around the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza(A.S.) is ready to grant an art-work proportionate to the Islamic genuine culture which is deserving this Holy Shrine with the cooperation and companionship of devotees of the Holy Shrine.