Medieval Islamic Stucco Décor vs. Soviet Architecture of Uzbekistan
abstract
This is a review of what is termed ‘twentieth-century Central Asian national style’. It aims to answer the question of how the 20th century treated the heritage of early Islamic ornamental art. My research uses the example of carved stucco architectural décor in Uzbekistan. This technique was traditional in both the early Islamic period and the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Uzbekistan was chosen because it possesses the most representative examples of architecture, illustrating common processes for all of Central Asia. I raise the questions of adoptions and rejections in stylisation, review the stages of reinterpretation and reconsideration, and finally propose my own periodisation.
Keywords: Islimi • Girikh • Central Asian architectural décor • Stucco • National style • Gunch • Islamic architectural ornament • Soviet architectural décor