I find the definition traditional
Islamic art or contemporary Islamic art
or just Islamic art to be problematic
and a misnomer as it encompasses far too
much to be an apt representation of any
sort Muslim communities have varied
histories and geographical locations
that challenge singular definitions if
traditional Islamic God's implication is
all of the art made by artists and
artisans who may or may have not
practiced Islam but were part of Islamic
cultures over several centuries and over
large geographical territories then
reducing such enormous complexity into a
definition such as llama cart is
confounding as well as in today's
transnational ways of living and being
such a framework feels even more
restrictive on the other hand a quest to
define an Islamic identity in the
contemporary visual context may also be
a paradox in of itself
the projection of the multi-armed female
form is a metaphor for doris tube
herself mythical majestic monumental
rising from the Mughals sweet looming
over shangri-la overlooking the
formidable Pacific where her ashes were
sprinkled the paradox of shangri-la is
omnipresent with its American
orientalism stunning craft work and
collections from many Muslim cultures it
is engaging while full of contradiction
you