The gallery is a few meters from the old city wallsسوار
“The Jerusalem Shield” documents decorations on the windows of Al-Aqsa Mosque
The exhibition is the result of a 3-month workshop.
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The young Palestinian artist, Iman Hamdiya, works on documenting the largest number of Islamic geometric motifs that abound in religious and historical sites in the city of Jerusalem, to preserve it and teach it to new generations.
Yesterday, Iman, a specialist in the art of Islamic decoration, opened her art exhibition "The Jerusalem Gear" at the Yabous Cultural Center, meters from the walls of the Old City in the Holy City. It was the result of a three-month workshop, with the participation of 13 women.
The exhibition included many paintings in which the participants redrawn a group of Islamic geometric motifs in Al-Aqsa Mosque, in addition to employing these motifs in the work of new artistic paintings.
The visitor to the exhibition can see a wide range of artworks in which Islamic decorations were used, including ceramics, wood and leather. The participants in the workshop produced a set of decorative utensils, handbags, gift boxes, toys and accessories.
Iman said while receiving visitors to her exhibition: "We chose the exhibition title (The Jerusalem Gear) to bear the implications of what is displayed in it, and the gear means shield, and means protection, and the geometrical decoration art is the middle star."
"We aspire to bring the art of Islamic decoration back to life to be a part of our lives in the things around us, no matter how small," she added.
And she continued, "We are beginning to see a demand for this art, and there is a demand for it, whether it is to use it in architecture or in other things that we use in daily life."
Iman explained that this type of art requires focus and patience, and sometimes work on a copy of the painting with the same specifications and accuracy continues for nearly two months.
She continued, "Part of what you see in the exhibition is a documentation of some Islamic geometric decorations on the windows of Al-Aqsa Mosque, some of which were broken during the recent confrontations, as a result of sound bombs and rubber bullets."
Iman believes that Jerusalem, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque and many Islamic schools and historical centers, needs great effort and cooperation to work on documenting what exists.
"Soon we will open in Jerusalem, in cooperation with the Mamlouk Foundation in Egypt, which teaches the art of Islamic decoration, and a Turkish institute, a two-year diploma for teaching the art of Islamic decoration," she said.
"We will also have a studio in Jerusalem, through which we will produce Islamic decorative art, and train those who want to learn this art," she added.
Iman stated that she had started an ambitious project to document the art of Islamic geometric decorations in Al-Aqsa Mosque, to be published in a book.
The participants in the workshop, who are from different age groups and backgrounds, expressed great enthusiasm to continue this art.
"The art of Islamic geometric decorations is a work that requires patience, focus and great effort, but the result is worth, and in this art the point makes a difference," said Enas Allan, who participated in the workshop.
With the opening of the “Jerusalem Gear” exhibition, Yabous Center returns to resume its cultural activities, after nearly a year and a half of stopping due to the Corona virus pandemic.
Iman Hamdiya:
• “We aspire to bring the art of Islamic decoration back to life to be a part of our lives in the things around us, no matter how small they are.”
identity and endurance
“We are honored to return to welcome our Jerusalem audience to be with us in our cultural programs that we dedicate to serve Jerusalem and its cultural life,” said Rania Elias, director of the Yabous Center.
She added, "We must continue despite all the conditions we live in in the city of Jerusalem. Culture emphasizes our identity, the steadfastness of people, and our presence in this city."
The exhibition will continue until the end of June.
• This type of art requires concentration, patience and accuracy.
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