"Threads of Every Color"
by Michael Schreffler
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| Ceiling, 16th century, Spain (Metropolitan Museum of Art) |
The exchange of ideas, the fusion of diverse cultures and the expressions that emanate from the extension of these influences are some of the most fascinating aspects of art history. One excellent example of this exchange is the wooden sixteenth century Spanish church ceiling in the Koc Family Galleries (Gallery 459) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's newly renovated galleries for Islamic art. The Met gallery label states "The ceiling covering this gallery is a testament to the resilience and persistence of traditional Islamic design in Andalusia after the Christian Reconquista." This exquisite ceiling, a representative of the influence of Islamic design in art and architecture on non-Muslim societies, however, is not the first of its kind that has made its way across the Atlantic between Spain and the Americas. Actually the mudejar style, was transported to the "New World" at the end of the sixteenth century with the arrival of the Spanish conquerors. This in itself might not be a surprising revelation, but I found the discourse on the transference of the concept of "the Other" by the colonialists onto the people and the culture of Latin America outlined with fascinating examples in a research paper by Dr. Michael Schreffler quite revelatory.
