The 2023 Islamic Arts Biennale is taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and the contemporary design practice Studio Bound has debuted its thoughtful and minimalist installation called 'City as a Mosque.' The piece seeks to start a dialogue about the "formal and informal places of worship in the city of Makkah – also known as Mecca," making the argument that "all of Mecca can be considered a mosque." Research for this installation took Studio Bound eight years to complete. The piece features 14 sandstone slabs, each of which is a representation of a mosque in Makkah and "milled with a 1:1 scale pattern of a prayer carpet." A circular platform surrounds the stones for viewing purposes.
The Islamic Arts Biennale is running from January 23rd until April 23rd, 2023.
Mosque-Inspired Installations
Studio Bound Created City as a Mosque for the Islamic Arts Biennale
Trend Themes
1. Mosque-inspired Installations - Art installations that draw inspiration from mosques and Islamic architecture.
2. Minimalist Design - Utilizing minimalist design elements to create installations that speak to larger cultural ideas and themes.
3. Alternative Religious Spaces - Examining the idea of alternative or non-traditional places of worship and what constitutes a sacred space.
Industry Implications
1. Art & Design - Opportunities for artists and designers to create thought-provoking pieces that explore cultural and religious themes through large installation works.
2. Architectural Design - Innovations in architectural design that draw inspiration from religious and cultural themes and challenge traditional notions of space and place.
3. Religious Tourism - Developing new forms of religious tourism that engage with cultural, artistic, and architectural experiences beyond traditional sites of worship.