Holy Terror

(Inside the World of Islamic Terrorism)
by Amir Taheri. Adler & Adler, 1987
Binding by Minsky 1990
9" x 6" x 1"
"MINSKY" in gold, inside back cover

Quarter leather, gold stamped spine, lacquered acrylic on boards, flyleaf of foil stamped vellum

The design of the binding is an interpretation of 15th century Koran bindings. All the spaces in Islamic binding design are filled. There is no room for additional elements.  The traditional designs are more ornate, often beautiful, compelling, almost hypnotic. The filled pattern design is used here as a metaphor for the belief system of Islamic fundamentalist terrorists, which allows no room for other ideas.

The flyleaf has a quote from the Koran in 23k gold foil stamped on purple vellum:

This is the basis for the Jihad, or Holy War, and is also appropriate for this binding.

 

Other Minsky works based on Islamic motifs
Right (2001):

Reliquary for the Ashes of Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses
The First Amendment in The Bill of Rights Limited Edition Set

Left: The first version (1993, unique) of
Reliquary for the Ashes of Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses
The First Amendment in The Bill of Rights Series


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