Aesthetics

Poetry was very impressive in being indicative of both the light of reunion and the fire of separation

"Every word of thy poetry is indeed like unto a mirror in which the evidences of the devotion and love thou cherishest for God and His chosen ones are reflected. Well is it with thee who hast quaffed the choice wine of utterance and partaken of the soft flowing stream of true knowledge. Happy is he who hath drunk his fill and attained unto Him and woe betide the heedless. Its perusal hath truly proved highly impressive, for it was indicative of both the light of reunion and the fire of separation."

(Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Lawh-i-Maqsúd, pp. 175-76)

Design of a Temple must be beautiful and dignified, not showing extremes of modern architecture which is mostly ugly and too utilitarian

"He was very happy to hear that the National Assembly is pressing the work as regards having designs made for the Temple to be built in Frankfurt. He attaches the greatest importance to this enterprise, as you know; and considers that two points must be constantly borne in mind by the architects; one, that the building must not be too expensive, and two, that the design must be beautiful and dignified, and not show the influence of the extremes of modern architecture, which are transient in style, for the most part ugly, and altogether too utilitarian in aspect for a House of Worship."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 9 April 1955, to an individual believer, in Arts and Architecture (compilation), no. 12)

Present styles all over the world are very ugly and lack dignity and grace; necessary to bear in mind that the vast majority of plain, simple people are neither very modern nor extreme in their tastes

"The Guardian feels very strongly that, regardless of what the opinion of the latest school of architecture may be on the subject, the styles represented at present all over the world in architecture are not only very ugly, but completely lack the dignity and grace which must be at least partially present in a Bahá'í House of Worship. One must always bear in mind that the vast majority of human beings are neither very modern nor very extreme in their tastes, and that what the advanced school may think is marvelous is often very distasteful indeed to just plain, simple people."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 11 July 1956, to a National Spiritual Assembly, in Arts and Architecture (compilation), no. 13)

Some modern buildings may appear ugly a few generations later, while Classical Greek is an example of a mature art style which has been beautiful for two thousand years or more

"The present time is a period of turmoil and change. Architecture, like all arts and sciences, is undergoing very rapid development; one has only to consider the changes that have taken place in the course of the last few decades to have some idea of what is likely to happen during the years immediately ahead. Some modern buildings have, no doubt, qualities of greatness and will endure, but very much of what is being constructed now may be outgrown and may appear ugly but a few generations hence. Modern architecture, in other words, may be considered a new development in its primitive stage. Classical Greek architecture, however, is an example of a mature art style. It is very beautiful now, just as it has been beautiful for some two thousand years or more."

"The edifice we are now about to build is intended to serve for hundreds of years and is part of a complex of buildings around the arc on Mount Carmel which are to be harmonious in style. This is why we have chosen a style that is proven and has long endured, rather than a modern style which may well be ephemeral."

(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, 18 July 1974, to an individual believer, in Arts and Architecture (compilation), no. 14)

No one sure whether a current style will still appear beautiful, thus the Guardian chose the classical Greek style (though it is not a particularly "Bahá'í architecture")

"Architecture at this time, in common with all aspects of our civilization, is going through a period of rapid development, with tastes changing from decade to decade. No one can be certain whether a building which is built now in a current style will still appear beautiful in the eyes of the people fifty years hence. For the World Administrative Centre of the Faith, therefore, the beloved Guardian chose the classical Greek style of architecture. This is a mature style, very beautiful, which has persisted for some 2,000 years. It would not be correct, however, to deduce from this that the classical Greek styles are particularly Bahá'í architecture."

(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual, 3 September 1984, Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith, no. 55)

Manuscript and poem should be made interesting and appealing to non-believers

"He has received and read with deepest interest the manuscripts you had enclosed in your letter, one entitled "The Ocean of His Utterances", and the other consisting of a long poem in which you had made an attempt to present the Message indirectly.

"As to this last one, he approves of your suggestion to write a sequel to it, and to refer more directly to the Cause. He would, however, advise you to couch the whole subject in such a form as to make it interesting and appealing to the non-Baha'i reader. The direct presentation of the Teachings is surely highly important and even indispensable nowadays. But it should be done with utmost care and tact, and in a manner that would appeal to the non-believers."

(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 31 December 1935, Writers and Writing, no. 2225)

Overly interpreting one's art (such as describing symbols in one's paintings) could detract from rather than enhance artistic efforts

"You sometimes provide detailed written descriptions of the symbols you use in your paintings; as a practice this could introduce an aspect which could be unduly interpretive of Bahá'í concepts, ultimately detracting from rather than enhancing your artistic efforts. Symbolism is the stuff of art, but artists rarely interpret the symbols they use, leaving it to the observers of their works to draw their own conclusions, sometimes with no more than hints from the titles given such works."

(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, 23 February 1987, no. 81)

Natural for heart and spirit to take pleasure in symmmetry, harmony, and perfection

"It is natural for the heart and spirit to take pleasure and enjoyment in all things that show forth symmetry, harmony, and perfection. For instance: a beautiful house, a well designed garden, a symmetrical line, a graceful motion, a well written book, pleasing garments--in fact, all things that have in themselves grace or beauty are pleasing to the heart and spirit--therefore, it is most certain that a true voice causes deep pleasure. What is music? It is a combination of harmonious sounds. What is poetry? It is a symmetrical collection of words."

('Abdu'l-Baha's words to Mrs. Mary L. Lucas, as quoted in "A Brief Account of My Visit to Acca" (Chicago: Baha'i Publishing Society, 1905), pp. 11-14, cited in Compilation of Extracts from the Baha'i Writings on Music, no. 1422)

To-dos for this page

• Integrate from art methods