Free ornament or disciplined geometry?
The artist in the workshop designs a new mosque wall. Two roads: free vegetal ornament flowing as life flows, never repeating, or star-and-polygon geometry disciplined by measures, repeating to infinity? The decision: freedom of the hand or order of the mind?
The positions
the free hand
the leaf and frond grow as life grows, without bound
The evidence
the arabesque covered walls and doors in every era
Sources: exhibit/pathway-g11-hrt3m-islamic-art-architecturebuilding/alhambra
the geometers
the stars' order mirrors the universe's order; the pattern never fails
The evidence
the geometric stars generated patterns beyond counting
Sources: exhibit/pathway-g11-hrt3m-islamic-art-architectureconcept/islamic-calligraphy
You decide
Which road would have guided your hand? Write your reason.
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