Home » Visual & Performing Arts » Islamic Architecture » Islamic and Arabic Art on the Web

Islamic and Arabic Art on the Web

©

To say that the internet has changed the way we receive information would be somewhat of an understatement. To say it has spawned an information revolution might be more appropriate. It has enabled people from opposite ends of the earth to share knowledge and interact in a way that has never before been possible. It has also allowed individuals to access huge amounts of information, that would normally require a great deal of traveling, all from the comfort of one's own home. There are of course drawbacks to this new information medium which can and has been discussed endlessly by internet users and social critics alike. Some of the issues of concern are the inaccuracy of the info, decreased real social interaction, the potential encouragement of the sedentary lifestyle, etc. . However the positive attributes seem to far outweigh the negatives and suggest that this revolution will continue. One of those positive aspects is the increased accessibility to the visual arts, past and present, which are well suited to this information medium.

MUSEUMS AND ONLINE EXHIBITS

Just as some might say there is no shortage of museums around the world for art seekers the same can be said for museum web sites. If you would like to get information on any museum in the world you are most likely going to find that on the web. In addition many of the larger art museums have online displays of a good portion of their artifacts. Nothing compares to seeing artwork in the real world but for those that can't afford to fly around the world to see their favorite works, this is the next best thing. Many of these major art museums have collections of Islamic Art which they have fortunately displayed on their web sites. One such museum is the Metropolitan Museum of Art which has an Islamic Art collection online containing 50 images of artifacts ranging from ceramics to metalwork. Other museums with online image archives include Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Worcester Art Museum (7 images), The Chester Beatty Library (8 images), The Detroit Institute of Arts (19 images), and The Tareq Rajab Museum (over 60 images). Another source for images of islamic art are the online exhibits put on by organizations not directly affiliated with museums. One such exhibit is put on by Fundacion De Cultura Islamica of Spain. Their web site contains a complete exhibit on Islamic Art and Architecture which makes great use of web animations as a part of the display.

The copyright of the article Islamic and Arabic Art on the Web in Islamic Architecture is owned by . Permission to republish Islamic and Arabic Art on the Web in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.