Art Workshop on (The Art of Decoration and Gilding)

At the beginning of the workshop, Al Douri touched on the importance of the art of Islamic decoration and refinement as one of the most prominent Islamic arts that have developed over the centuries to reflect the spiritual and artistic beauty of Islamic civilization. It is based mainly on geometric, plant patterns, and Arabic calligraphy, and is characterised by harmony and precision in details.

During the workshop, Al Douri focused on the plant decoration pattern (arabesque), inspired by natural shapes such as leaves and flowers. Plant decoration represents a continuous flow that reflects the principle of renewal in life.

Al Douri discussed the relationship between the two similarities "the art of decoration and gilding" and Arabic calligraphy, as it is considered one of the most important elements of Islamic decoration. It is used in decorating Quran bboks, buildings, and monuments, where Quranic texts and supplications are integrated into artistic designs in an aesthetic way. 

The workshop focused on the art of gilding using the "Helkar/ gold shading" technique, through practical and direct models. "Helkar" is a technique that combines colour and gilding to produce balanced and harmonious designs. It is a traditional decorative style characterised by the use of gold and light colours to highlight fine details, where parts of the design are covered with gold to create a rich and beautiful visual effect.