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Helen Betts | all galleries >> Saudi Arabia: Life in the Desert >> The Great Riyadh Pastime: Shopping > Kingdom Centre mannequin
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02-NOV-2013

Kingdom Centre mannequin

None of the mannequins in the mall -- male or female -- had heads; some like this one had something clever but non-human in its place. I don't know much about Islam, but as I understand it the avoidance of the human figure in art stems from the prohibition against idolatry in the Quran. From Wiki: "Typically, though not entirely, Islamic art has focused on the depiction of patterns and Arabic calligraphy, rather than on figures, because it is feared by many Muslims that the depiction of the human form is idolatry and thereby a sin against God, forbidden in the Qur'an."

This image was previously posted in another gallery, but I'm including it here because it fits with the gallery theme.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
1/160s f/5.6 at 18.9mm iso3200 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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François Fauchard26-Dec-2014 14:12
Strange for us, European people !
larose forest photos19-Dec-2014 21:39
I think I remember this tulip headed mannequin! Love the top. But the outfit just seems so at odds with the culture of abayas. I suppose at home women can feel free to wear western style clothes. V