In this episode, we engage in a profound discussion with Wendy Shaw, a leading art historian and professor of the Art History of Islamic Cultures at the Freie Universität Berlin, on the nuanced relationship between Islamic faith, artistic expression, and the categorization of "Islamic" art. Through her explorative journey from biochemistry to the depths of Islamic art history, Shaw offers invaluable insights into the complexities of defining art within the Islamic cultural sphere and the broader implications for decolonizing the field of art history.

0:00 Introduction to Islamic Art with Wendy Shaw
0:51 Wendy Shaw's Shift from Biochemistry to Islamic Art History
11:11 The Nature of Islamic Art and Its Theological Aspects
19:35 Reactions to Shaw's Book and Its Challenge to Norms
27:12 The Role of Decategorizing Islamic Art in Decolonization
32:34 The Importance of Diverse Stories in Islamic Art
43:30 Wendy Shaw's Must-Read Books on Islamic Art

Professor Wendy Shaw, an esteemed scholar in the field of Islamic art history, has significantly contributed to the discourse on the relationship between religion, perception, and artistic expression. Her book "What is 'Islamic' Art?: Between Religion and Perception" offers a groundbreaking approach to understanding Islamic arts through the lens of historical Islam's discursive sphere, including the Qur'an, Hadith, Sufism, ancient philosophy, and poetry. By focusing on the experience of reception over the context of production, Shaw not only challenges existing narratives within Islamic art but also advocates for a decolonizing model for global art history practices.

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

Hosted by:
Mikey Muhanna 👉   / mikey_mu  

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#WendyShaw #IslamicArt #ArtHistory #ReligionandArt #DecolonizingArtHistory #Perception