# Mosque-Inspired Installations Studio Bound Created City as a Mosque for the Islamic Arts Biennale By Kalin Ned | Published 2023-02-07 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/islamic-arts-biennale1 References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2023/02/07/studio-bound-city-mosque-islamic-arts-biennale/) & [studio-bound](https://studio-bound.com/)  The 2023 Islamic Arts Biennale is taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and the contemporary design practice [Studio Bound](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zebun-nessa-mosque) has debuted its thoughtful and [minimalist installation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/moment-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. Image Credit: Ali Karimi ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.3/10 - Popularity: 42% | Activity: 13% | Freshness: 14% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Mosque-inspired Installations:** Art installations that draw inspiration from mosques and Islamic architecture. - **Minimalist Design:** Utilizing minimalist design elements to create installations that speak to larger cultural ideas and themes. - **Alternative Religious Spaces:** Examining the idea of alternative or non-traditional places of worship and what constitutes a sacred space. ### Who This Affects Most - **Art & Design:** Opportunities for artists and designers to create thought-provoking pieces that explore cultural and religious themes through large installation works. - **Architectural Design:** Innovations in architectural design that draw inspiration from religious and cultural themes and challenge traditional notions of space and place. - **Religious Tourism:** Developing new forms of religious tourism that engage with cultural, artistic, and architectural experiences beyond traditional sites of worship. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Reconfigurable Gathering Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/in-the-assembly-of-lovers.md) - [Inaugural Cultural Arts Festivals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/islamic-arts-biennale.md) - [Classically Designed Geometric Mosques](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mamluki-lancet-mosque.md) - [Architectural Threshold Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/some-kind-of-practice.md) - [Desert Sanctuary Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oasis.md) - [Geometric Cone-Shaped Mosques](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bab-al-salam-mosque.md) - [Maze-Inspired Performance Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/city-of-time.md) - [Red Brick Geometric Mosques](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bait-ur-raiyan-mosque.md) - [Perforated Pink Concrete Mosques](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zebun-nessa-mosque.md)