The Jameel Prize
Believe it or not, these intricately carved plastic sheets are worth £25,000. That's the value of the Jameel Prize. Afruz Amighi won it with her 1001 Pages (2008), the first winner of this new international award. The object of the Jameel Prize is to promote Islamic traditions of craft and design in contemporary art. What a waste of £25,000! All this work shows is the poverty of Islamic art, which takes refuge in patterns to avoid offending the imams. This neurotic necessity for repetition is akin to the fixed action patterns of animals caged in a zoo, that mindless padding back and forth which indicates a trapped and mentally disturbed beast. The exhibition continues at the V&A in London until 13 September, admission free. If you like lace curtains....
posted by Unknown @ 14.7.09
2 comments
2 Comments:
The photograph of the piece shown does not reflect the intricacy of the patterns which reflect Iranian history and mythology as well as critical elements. Those who saw it in person exclaimed not only of its beauty but its merging of both design and content. Sorry you are unable to dicipher this from the picture. Shadow pieces do not photograph well. Other pieces up for the prize also were high on content, reflecting the convergence of traditional &and contemporary art.
Hi, Davidson
Thanks for your comment.
I did see other photos of this piece and could tell it would look more interesting with its lighting effects, but to me an intricate pattern like this is simply wallpaper, not a work of art. Old English churches are full of intricate carvings which nobody calls 'art'. They were created by craftsmen. As a work of craftsmanship, this may be very good, but as art....
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