Activity
Create an Abstract Dreamscape
In this activity, you will create an art piece inspired by the work of Bernice Bing.
With simple beginnings in the pre-Islamic period, Arabic script developed rapidly after the rise of Islam into not only a writing system but also an art form. Because the revelations of God to Muhammad were in Arabic, it became the language of Islam and the reading and writing of Arabic play a central role in the religion. In the first chapter of the Qur’an, God is described as “most generous, teaching by the pen” (96/3-4), and God is often described in Islamic poetry as the eternal calligrapher.
In this activity, you will think about the visual impact of various scripts. How does the appearance of a message affect its reception?
Writing utensils (color markers, pencils, etc.)
Paper
To learn more about Arabic script, visit these resources: