How Does Tamim Sahbezda Affect Islamic Design?

Islamic Design by Tamim Sahbezda is a graphite on white wall artwork. This all neutral-colored piece is around six feet in height and one foot in length. It mimics stucco design patterns found in some of the early Islamic works of art. The artist of this piece was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and likely took visuals he sees around his native country to develop this work of art. I can tell that the piece is meant to imitate a stucco work since there is little color in the picture; only white, forms of gray, and black is used. Furthermore, the work is made up of six squares which all have the same pattern design within them. Repetition of the same shapes is commonly found in stucco design. This work is not meant to mimic Islamic tile art since it is not colorful, nor exceptionally intricate. The materials used to create Islamic Design are graphite, a stencil, and the artist’s hands. The graphite was likely used due to the versatility and ease of forming lines with the material. Graphite easily creates shape, texture, and gradation. The stencil was used so that all of the squares were similar and stucco-like work could be formed. Sahbezda likely decided to use his hands for this piece since he comes from a long line of calligraphers, and is

This gradation of color allowed for a three dimensional effect to take hold in the piece. The white, negative space, creates depth, whereas the darker areas of the piece forms the faux-elevated part of the work. Change in color creates the lines in this piece. Most of the lines are organic from the round lines of the stencil and rough due to the smears of the graphite. This rough graphite creates visual texture and attempts at tricking the eye into thinking that it is three dimensional. Some of the lines are meant to be formed by the eye. The color ends at one point, but then picks up again; your eye is meant to fill in that