The Past as a Springboard for Understanding the Present. Classical Motifs in Contemporary Art through Examples from the MENA Region and Asia

Abstract

The re-emergence of classical forms, motifs, and media in contemporary art is an exciting field of research. In this paper, through a series of case studies, I focus on carpets, calligraphy, and photography in the oeuvre of artists working in or originating from countries with a predominantly Muslim aesthetic heritage, to see how these novel pieces can contribute to our present understanding of aesthetics and thus a better understanding of our present.

Keywords

• past forms in contemporary art
• mena region and asia
• carpet
• calligraphy
• photography