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Creative Reckonings - Art of the Middle East

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Creative Reckonings - Art of the Middle East


Middle Eastern Art
• Is it even a genre?

The category of Middle Eastern art is necessarily general since it incorporates the region’s incredible diversity and breadth, spanning from eastern Mediterranean to Pakistan.

• If it is, what themes does it deal with?

Likewise, the themes which this category of art deals with are interspersed with an incredible degree of richness and diversity. At times, these works appear to be set in contexts which are fraught with conflict and at other times, these works portray the junction between tradition and rapid development. Moreover, lately, artworks originating from this region or depicting some aspects of the regional culture tend to question West’s prevailing representations of the Middle East.

• Middle Eastern Art or Islamic Art?

Islamic Art is a significant dimension of Middle Eastern Art. However, the genre of Islamic art has been modified and customized to include contemporary works in the Middle Eastern context. Generally, inspiration is drawn from cultural traditions which are juxtaposed with contemporary themes. More than often imagery and techniques are deployed from earlier periods which are then embellished with an au courant ambience.
However, this doesn’t imply that modern Middle Eastern art is re-inventing Islamic art. Instead, it appears that it is being re purposed so as to make it a much more cognizant tool of personal expression, free from the shackles of functionality and patronage.

• Finally ! CATF’s contribution to Middle Eastern Art :D

CATF aims to shed light upon these very trends which are surfacing in this genre. Our collection of Middle Eastern artworks juxtapose tradition with contempo. They question stereotypes and break them. They experiment with colors and techniques and foreground a new and resplendent purpose of Islamic art.

Check out our collection of Middle Eastern Art today at
1-catf.pixels.com