Where tradition and state-of-the-art professionalism meet

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2 2 Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, half-dome, transition elements, arches

3 3 Contents Who We Are 5 What We Do 8 Excellence 13 What We Can Offer You 17 Gallery 18 (you can click on the links above to go directly to the page)

4 4 List of Illustrations Cover: Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, main dome, two half-domes, transition elements, clerestory windows, arches P. 2: Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, half-dome, transition elements, arches P. 6: Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, exterior P. 7: Hajj Bahaeddin Hariri Mosque (upper left), Islamic Center of America Mosque (upper right), Hassanein Mosque (bottom), exteriors P. 8: Ilorin Mosque, studies P. 9: Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, gilded ornaments and gilded calligraphy, main dome P. 10: Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, calligraphy, main dome P. 11: Hassanein Mosque, gypsum geometric form design decorating a ceiling P. 12: Hajj Bahaeddin Hariri Mosque, upper pillars, arch, spandrels P. 13: Ilorin Mosque, full study P. 14: Islamic Center of America, team at work P. 15: Islamic Center of America, team at work P. 16: Islamic Center of America, team at work P. 19: Hajj Bahaeddin Hariri Mosque, full interior P. 20: Hajj Bahaeddin Hariri Mosque, main dome P. 21: Hassanein Mosque, main dome P. 22: Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, main dome with transition elements and arches P. 23: Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, half-dome with transition elements and arches P. 24: Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, calligraphy on pendentive transition element P. 25: Hajj Bahaeddin Hariri Mosque, full interior P. 26: Islamic Center of America, close-up of central part of the main dome P. 27: Ilorin Mosque, Kwara, Nigeria, dome painting and calligraphy P. 28: Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, final work stages with scaffolding Back-cover: Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, main dome

5 5 Who We Are We are the decorators of some of the most important mosques in the Middle East, in the United States, and in Africa: 2004: Hajj Bahaeddin Hariri Mosque, Sidon, South Lebanon. The biggest dome in the Middle East at 44 meters high, 900 square meters. Gilding ornamentation, calligraphy, patina, stone imitation. Executed in two months and a half. 2005: Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, Beirut, Lebanon. The biggest mosque in the Middle East and a landmark of the capital's city center with a main dome 46 meters high covering 650 square meters. Gilding ornamentation, calligraphy, patina, stone and wood imitations. Executed in three months. 2008: The Islamic Center of America Mosque, Dearborn, Michigan, USA. The biggest mosque in the United States. Gilding ornamentation, calligraphy, patina, stone and wood imitations. Executed in two months. 2010: Hassanein Mosque, Deir Intar, South Lebanon. Painting and gilding on central and main entrance domes, hallways, and multi-purpose hall. Executed in two months. 2011: Ilorin Mosque, Kwara State, Nigeria. The most luxuriouslydecorated mosque in Nigeria. Executed in two months. Harout Bastajian, the company s founding president and main designer, executor, and artist, started in 1996 with the decoration of houses, villas, and palaces. His work with mosques, started in 2004, quickly drew him critical acclaim after his completion of landmark mosques. The Art of Mosques team revolves around a core group consisting of Harout and six professional painters backed up by a calligrapher, an interior designer, and a graphic designer. The core group can expand to thirty-five painters depending on the size of the project.

6 6 Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, exterior

7 7 Hajj Bahaeddin Hariri Mosque (upper left), Islamic Center of America Mosque (upper right), Hassanein Mosque (bottom), exteriors

8 8 What We Do Studies Historical research, observation, the constant study of painting-related material, and the willingness to update one s knowledge form the basis to achieving the required mastery of forms, colors, depths, and finishes. This, in turn, is reflected in the professional quality of the design studies we deliver to our customers. Ilorin Mosque, studies

9 9 What We Do Gilding Gilding is an art of its own: using gold, silver, brass or bronze leaves and adding different-colored layers of protective coats brings out the desired finishes. Gilding is most prominent and gives its fullest effect and its maximum contrast relative to any point where the viewer is positioned. Gilding also follows and puts in relief the natural shape of the mosque s dome, interacting with lighting in order to give optimum illumination. Below is a perfect example of gilded ornaments and gilded calligraphy in the Al-Amine Mosque s main dome.

10 10 What We Do Calligraphy Calligraphy is an exact science where the text s religious and spiritual signification is determined by the smallest diacritical details. Our calligrapher is one of the best in the Middle East; in the age of advanced technology, Islamic calligraphy is still made solely by hand despite the possibility of digitalization which will, however, never match the artistic experience and intuition of the human calligrapher. Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, calligraphy, main dome

11 11 What We Do Patina Patina is yet another art of its own; the unique depth of color is the result of a meticulous combination of color coordination, multi-layered coats of paint, and time-tested application techniques. The final product is a masterpiece of spatial and visual beauty. Patina is mainly used to harmonize the different elements and sections of the mosque s interior while adding aesthetic value to plain surfaces. Hassanein Mosque, gypsum geometric form design decorating a ceiling

12 12 What We Do Marble, Stone, and Wood Imitations Marble, stone, and wood imitations provide an exact replica of the real material however sophisticated its color, texture, veining, and finish are; it is almost impossible to tell the difference between real and imitation. The same artistic value, finish, and lifetime duration are achieved for a fraction of the cost incurred for marble, stone, and wood. Below is one of the cardinal angles of the Bahaeddin Hariri Mosque in Sidon, South Lebanon. The upper pillars and the arch are stone imitation, the spandrels at arch-level are marble imitation.

13 13 Excellence Authenticity Every project is determined by the architectural specificities of each individual mosque, its historical and cultural roots, and its human dimension represented by the community that has developed around it. Ornamental beauty in itself is not enough; research into the appropriate historico-religious background is conducted beforehand in order to ensure the highest standards of authenticity. Ilorin Mosque, full study

14 14 Excellence Workmanship Our team, with more than ten years of experience, has achieved the necessary synergy to work, on the one hand, as a group and, on the other hand, as highly specialized units responsible for the different facets of mosque decoration. Islamic Center of America, team at work

15 15 Excellence Materials We use the best materials to cover the full process of decorative design from primary to final coats for gilding and painting. This is crucial in order to achieve the required aesthetic effect and durability we have become famous for. Islamic Center of America, team at work

16 16 Excellence Completion Times Because our team works as a synchronized unit where each artist fills a specific space with a specialized task, time is used in the most efficient manner possible. Our reputation for delivering completed projects in competitive time-frames has placed us at the forefront of mosque decoration. Islamic Center of America, team at work

17 17 What We Can Offer You Why we would love to work for you: We specialize in mosques and we have acquired the required portfolio through the best and most famous projects in the Middle East, North America, and Africa We use only the best materials available We promise to deliver in the best possible times We offer a 25-year guarantee on our decorative work We have had 100% customer satisfaction rates We use the latest technology while keeping to the most trusted traditional techniques to achieve maximum quality and durability We have overcome the challenges inherent in the physical and mathematical peculiarities of domes painting We deliver an overall aesthetic and spiritual experience where each and every element exists in a harmoniously artistic and coherent relationship according to Islamic norms and guidelines

18 18 Gallery The following pages offer a selection of our work; we hope you will enjoy these photos as much as we enjoyed decorating the most beautiful mosques in the world

19 19 Hajj Bahaeddin Hariri Mosque, full interior

20 20 Hajj Bahaeddin Hariri Mosque, main dome

21 21 Hassanein Mosque, main dome

22 22 Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, main dome with transition elements and arches

23 23 Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, half-dome with transition elements and arches

24 24 Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, calligraphy on pendentive transition element

25 25 Hajj Bahaeddin Hariri Mosque, full interior

26 26 Islamic Center of America, close-up of central part of the main dome

27 27 Ilorin Mosque, Kwara, Nigeria, dome painting and calligraphy

28 28 Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, final work stages with scaffolding

29 Mazra at Yashou, Matn, Lebanon Dr Paul Jahshan, Project Director Visit us at Copyright 2011 by The Art of Mosques