THE HAGUE.- Ninety years after Escher’s last visit to the Alhambra in Granada, Escher in The Palace presents a special exhibition linking his fascination with Islamic patterns to contemporary art. Escher & Islamic Art: 20 Perspectives focuses not only on the influence of the famous Spanish palace complex on Escher, but also on the way Islamic cultural heritage continues to inspire artists to this day.

Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898–1972) became world-famous for his intriguing prints, in which he plays with perspective, space and repetition. His seemingly logical worlds turn out, on closer inspection, to be impossible, whilst his characteristic tessellations (patterns in which shapes fit together seamlessly and repeat endlessly) form a unique visual language at the intersection of art and mathematics. This combination ensures that his work remains influential to this day, even far beyond the art world, including in education and in the development of films and games.

Less well-known is that Escher’s fascination with rhythm, repetition and transformation was sparked by his visits to the medieval fortress and palace complex, the Alhambra, Granada, Spain.

During his travels, he was struck by the colourful ceramic mosaics and geometric patterns found in Islamic architecture. In these decorations, he recognised the visual structure he himself had been seeking. This discovery formed the starting point for his intensive research into tessellations – a theme that continued to play a central role in his drawings and prints until the end of his life.

A contemporary and innovative perspective

With Escher & Islamic Art: 20 Perspectives, Escher in The Palace connects this historical narrative with the present day. The exhibition looks back at the influence of Islamic art on Escher and places his work within a broader, contemporary context.

The combination of Escher’s prints with contemporary artworks creates a dynamic dialogue about patterns, rhythm, infinity and cultural exchange. The exhibition encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, paper art, fashion and textiles.

Twenty national and international artists have been invited to take part in the exhibition. Together, they present thirty works. A large proportion of these are on display in the Netherlands for the first time, and several works have been created especially for this exhibition.

The selection comprises a mix of established names and emerging artists from various parts of the world. The participating artists are: Nasam Abboud & Yazan Maksoud, Karim Adduchi, Amine Asselman, Dana Awartani, Fatima Barznge, Emin Batman, Hassan Hajjaj, Siddiqa Juma, Mous Lamrabat, Shehzil Malik, Layla May Arthur, Farwa Moledina, Suleika Mueller, Leila Nazarian, Shirin Neshat, Mounir Raji and, in collaboration with MASTOOR, Alfaz Sayed and Ishraq Zraikat.

Each artist has their own relationship with Islamic culture and heritage. For some, this lies in the rich tradition of Islamic geometry. Others draw inspiration from repetition and rhythm – elements that also recur in daily religious practices, such as prayer. At the same time, the works demonstrate that the interpretations of this visual language are endless. It is precisely this versatility that resonates with Escher’s own fascination: his lifelong quest to find ways of visualising the idea of infinity.

Exhibition layout

Escher & Islamic Art: 20 Perspectives spans both the ground floor and the first floor of the palace and is interwoven with the permanent collection, which has been partially renewed for this occasion. The narrative begins with Escher’s travels, including his visits to the Alhambra, and the impressions he gained there – from his observations and sketches to the photographs he took during his travels.

At the same time, this historical perspective is complemented by contemporary interpretations of Islamic visual language. In every exhibition room, works by artists can be seen that engage in a surprising dialogue with Escher’s prints. This creates new perspectives on his work, alongside a deeper exploration of familiar themes such as tessellations and geometry.

The curators

This exhibition is curated by Mireille Linck of Escher in The Palace and guest curator Qasim Arif.

Mireille Linck is a curator at Escher in The Palace. She has previously organised exhibitions on, amongst others, Escher’s mentor Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita, his talented contemporary Julie de Graag, and the ‘British Escher’ Anne Desmet.

Qasim Arif is an artist, speaker and curator. In his work, he explores themes such as identity, faith and culture, combining personal experiences with broader social issues.