Rahppoye, Hekmat-e Honar

Rahppoye, Hekmat-e Honar

Principles of Mystical Wisdom aesthetics from the perspective of William C. Chittick and its manifestation in the process of creating an artwork

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Navid Jalaeian Ghane 1
Saeid Ghasemi 1
Khosro Sahaf 2
1 Ph.D. Candidate, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
10.22034/rph.2025.2048568.1092
Abstract
According to many contemporary philosophers, art today faces a crisis of meaning and no longer serves, as it once did, as a process of bridging the heavens and the earth. Contemporary art often leans toward abstract representations of the sensory world rather than acting as a reminder of dimensions beyond material perception, to which humanity has an existential connection. Aesthetics, as a unifying element between philosophy, wisdom, and art, plays a foundational role in the creation of artistic works and forms the basis for discourse between art and philosophy. Therefore, to revive and elevate contemporary art, turning to mystical wisdom and mystical aesthetics through the lens of a scholar who is both a philosopher and an artist (such as William Chittick) can offer valuable insights. The central research question of this study is: What are the fundamental principles of aesthetics derived from William Chittick’s mystical teachings, and how do they manifest in the process of artistic creation. This research employs library-based methods for data collection and uses a descriptive and content-analysis approach to analyze the texts. Findings indicate that mystical aesthetics is rooted in divine love, which originates from God. This love is comprehended by humans through the recognition of the Divine Names. The artist, based on their level of understanding of these Names, is able to manifest them in their artistic creations through symbolic representation. Similarly, the audience, depending on their spiritual quest and progression along the mystical path, ascends through spiritual ranks, transforming art into a bridge between the heavens and the earth.
Keywords
William Chittick
Mystical wisdom
Divine names
The process of creating an artwork
Mysticism

Subjects

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Rahppoye, Hekmat-e Honar
Volume 3, Issue 2 - Serial Number 5
January 2025
Pages 67-82

  • Receive Date 21 December 2024
  • Revise Date 07 January 2025
  • Accept Date 20 January 2025