The use of script as an aesthetic device is longstanding in Islamic art. Indeed, one of the earliest forms of Islamic art are terracotta oil lamps with text inscribed on their surface.2 These inscriptions are not merely decorative but also reference the light emitted from the lamps as a metaphor for revelation. As I will show, the use of script in Islamic art is not only meant to delight the eye; it is, moreover, a cognitively faceted aesthetic device. Following an overview of script as an aesthetic device in Islamic art, I survey its legacy in the contemporary art world of the Middle East.

中文翻译：

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伊斯兰艺术中的文字和隐喻的阿拉伯式花纹

使用文字作为一种审美手段在伊斯兰艺术中由来已久。事实上，伊斯兰艺术最早的形式之一是表面刻有文字的赤土油灯。2这些铭文不仅仅是装饰性的，而且还将灯发出的光作为启示的隐喻。正如我将要展示的那样，伊斯兰艺术中文字的使用不仅是为了赏心悦目，也是为了让人们赏心悦目。此外，它还是一种认知层面的美学手段。在概述了文字作为伊斯兰艺术中的一种审美手段之后，我调查了它在中东当代艺术界的遗产。