Contemporary Islamic Architecture-Hope for Global Society
International Conference on Islamic Arts & Architecture (ICIAA) concluded on December 12, 2007 with the intellectual deliberations and discourse culminating with the call to liberate Islamic Arts & Architecture from its own Shadow by Prof. S.M. Akhtar, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture & Ekistics. He differed with the perception of Islamic Architecture as Buildings having -Arches, -Minarets, -Domes, or Calligraphy as ornamentation element, -Building built during Medieval period, -Building built by a Muslim ruler, -Building constructed in Muslim ruled states of central or west Asia. Even the finer description may even refer to -symmetrical balance also as one of the most pronounced esthetical element. “When the Term Islamic Architecture is accepted, it implies that It has to do with architecture representing Islamic philosophy and symbolizing Islamic way of living, which is universal and that is for the global society, as well that has to be eternal, that is relevant for all times which have been passed and which will come as future. In this context it is to be seen that the four elements of Architecture that are defined as People, Period, Place and Purpose are complimented with a fifth element, which encompasses all these four elements that is “Philosophy”. Architecture that imbibes the basic philosophy of Islam can be termed “ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE”, explained Prof. Akhtar.
He further emphasized “The Islamic Architecture needs to be liberated from its own shadows, and seen in totality for the whole civilization as well for all times to come.” He envisaged Islamic Architecture for contemporary scenario as “To pave the way for emergence of contemporary Islamic Architecture. That will have the spirit and expression of Islamic Philosophy but the building typology of today. That will be the vocabulary for Islamic Architecture for Global Society.”
The conference was a three day event (December 10-12, 2007) and organized by Faculty of Architecture & Ekistics, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and India Islamic Cultural Centre in collaboration with many academic and institutional partners from India and Iran. The conference was inaugurated on December 10, 2007 at India Islamic Cultural Centre by His Excellency Ambassador of Iran in the presence of Mushirul Hasan, V.C. Jamia Millia Islamia, Farhang Mozaffar, President, Art University of Isfahan, Sirajuddin Qureshi, President India Islamic Cultural Centre and J.S. Thakur of Purvanchal Group.
The conference comprised of technical sessions on various aspects of Islamic Arts & Architecture as well as showcasing the diverse forms of Visual and Performing Arts. In the fifteen Technical Sessions a total of 86 papers were presented by the scholars of Arts and Architecture from Afghanistan, Austria Canada, Iran, Pakistan, UAE, USA, Turkey, and India on diverse subjects and topics on the theme.
Many distinguished scholars participated in the conference, Prof. Ebba Koch, University of Vienna, Austria; Prof. Gholam Reza Vatankhah, Professor of Conservation, Art University of Isfahan; Prof. Parvin Ghehmaghami, Professor, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran; Prof. Akhtar Chauhan, Director, Rizvi College of Architecture, Mumbai; Prof. Ayesha Noorani, National College of Arts, Lahore; Ar. H. Masud Taj, Carlton University, Canada; Ms. Sabah Husain, eminent artist from Lahore; Ms. Mary Kay Judy, Architect-Conservator from New York and Ar. Abdul Najimi, Conservation Architect, Kabul to name a few. Ebba Koch delivered a special lecture on Taj Mahal, highlighting the construction and architecture as a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic Architecture.
Case Study Visits of the delegates were conducted in collaboration with Archaeological Survey of India to the heritage monuments of Delhi and Agra to illustrate the conservation and restoration work as well as establish an understanding about the Indo-Islamic Architecture to the overseas delegates.
Many eminent Artists put on display their work in the conference; “Calligraphy from Modern Perspectives” by Prof. Ghazanfar Zaidi; Sculptures titled “Pairan-e-but-e-shair” by Prof. Ghufran Kidwai; Photographs titled “Romance in Red stone Motifs and Patterns in Islamic Architecture” by Prof. Yaswant D. Pitkar; “God is beautiful and loves beauty” tilted paintings by Ms. Rabab Zaidi; Sketches titled “Azmat-e-Rafta ki Nishaniyan” by Ar. Manu Mahajan; Carpet design by Ms. Sanaz Heiranpour and Kufi Banayi Script by Mr. Hassan Estaji both from Iran. Dr. Zakir Husain Library put on view the collection of rare manuscripts and books in the exhibitions.
Performing Arts were highlighted by Sufiyana Kalam of celebrated Sufi singer Amita Singhvi and Poetry Sessions in the evenings. Documentaries on the theme were screened during the event