Reinvigorating the cultural heritage artifacts from Alhambra Palace

This practice-based research is exploring the UNESCO world heritage site Alhambra Palace (the red coloured in Arabic) built in Granada by the Nasrid Kingdom (1237-1492) and Alhambra vases. This research focuses on Islamic Spain during the Nasrid period, which is known for its lavish multi-cultural and artistic style. From the Studio Ceramics perspective, this area is under researched, and this was evident through the literature and contextual review of the current research. This article and corresponding NCECA presentation demonstrate the on-going investigation in an area in-between two major fields, which are the Islamic Art and the field of Ceramics. Focusing on a specific cultural heritage ceramic artifact found in or produced for Alhambra palace. Concentrates on geometric ceramic tiles and Arabic poems inscriptions found in Alhambra palace. As well as the traditional lustre technique used on the superb Alhambra vases. Since the clay material has a historical and cultural connotation the researcher aims to retain them within the body of work. Aiming to contribute culturally and technically towards a hybrid Contemporary Islamic Ceramics, by applying new interpretations in the current practice.