Ornamentation in Islamic art includes four forms; the three non-figural forms that are calligraphy, vegetal patterns, geometric patterns and figural representation. Al Burda Award has awarded works showcasing these forms, which depict the aesthetic range of Islamic culture. As with the other award categories, submission guidelines respect the intricate materials and approach used in the Classical and the Contemporary ornamentation practices.
Categories & Criteria
Classical ornamentation in Islamic art encompasses floral motifs and geometric motifs. Al Burda Award recognizes works that embody these forms, portraying the aesthetic space of Islamic arts inspired by verses from Imam Al-Busiri's "Al-Burda" poem
" فَإِنَّهُ شَمْسُ فَضْلٍ هُمْ كَوَاكِبُهَا ... يُظْهِرْنَ أَنْوَارَهاَ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الظُّلَمِ︎"."
- The artwork must reflect the theme of the Al Burda Award for this year, which is "Al-Noor light." Artworks that do not adhere to this theme will be disqualified.
- Consideration must be given to using materials and techniques characteristic of original classical ornamentation practices.
- The artwork should be executed in the style of original classical ornamentation, allowing room for artistic creativity in design.
- The overall paper size must be either 50 cm in Height and 35 cm in width or 50 cm by 50 cm.
- The ornamentation must cover 70% of the total paper area, with a focus on creativity in design.
- Original materials such as colours, inks, and real gold must be used in execution, and no substitutes are allowed.
- Inspiration can be drawn from authentic ornamentation styles spanning from the Abbasid period to the Mongol and Timurid periods, ensuring the artwork is a cohesive decorative piece.
- No empty spaces should be left in the artwork, making it a standalone decorative piece.
- Treated paper must be used in creating the artwork, and the ornamentation can be affixed to sturdy paper but not wood.
- The artwork must not contain the artist's signature. If a signature is present, the work will be disqualified from judging.
- The artist must write their name and reference number on the back of the artwork.
- The artwork should be sent in a secure package and must not be framed.
- 1st Prize: 70,000 AED
- 2nd Prize: 50,000 AED
- 3rd Prize: 40,000 AED
- 4th Prize: 30,000 AED
- 5th Prize: 20,000 AED
The contemporary ornamentation category aims to highlight the artist's creativity in developing classical Islamic ornamentation inspired by verses from Imam Al-Busiri's "Al-Burda" poem
" فَإِنَّهُ شَمْسُ فَضْلٍ هُمْ كَوَاكِبُهَا ... يُظْهِرْنَ أَنْوَارَهاَ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الظُّلَمِ︎"."
- The artwork must reflect the theme of the Al Burda Award for this year, which is "Al-Noor light." Artworks that do not adhere to this theme will be disqualified.
- The work must adhere to authentic decorative rules and employ them in a modern and creative manner, ensuring that traditional elements do not exceed 25% of the total artwork.
- The artist has the freedom to choose the types of pigments, materials, and colours used.
- Treated (Ahar) paper must be used for creating the artwork. The ornamentation can be affixed to sturdy paper but not to wood.
- The overall paper size must be 80 x 60 cm. The ornamentation can be affixed to sturdy paper but not to wood.
- The work must not contain the artist's signature. If a signature is present, the work will be disqualified from judging.
- The artist must write their name and reference number on the back of the artwork.
- The artwork should be sent in a secure package and must not be framed.
- 1st Prize: 70,000 AED
- 2nd Prize: 50,000 AED
- 3rd Prize: 40,000 AED