The decorations of Malatya Battalgazi Grand Mosque and original designs

The decoration of stone has been one of the most significant cultural ornamentation elements seen in Anatolian Seljuk and early Ottoman architecture, maintaining its importance over centuries. Stone, a building material used by the Turks upon their arrival in Anatolia, was also preferred as a decorative element in all architectural structures constructed for different purposes. The most crucial factor leading to this preference is the abundance of stone as a natural material associated with the geological structure of Anatolia. This study focuses on the decorations of the Malatya Battalgazi Grand Mosque, one of the most important cultural monuments in Anatolian Seljuk art history. According to the inscription of the Malatya Battalgazi Grand Mosque, it was built in 1224 under the order of Mansur bin Yakub during the reign of Anatolian Seljuk Sultan I. Alaeddin Keykubad. The tiles used in the wall decorations of the mosque constitute some of the richest examples reflecting the Anatolian Seljuk art style with their intriguing painting styles. Most of the patterns found in the ornamentation of the mosque are accessible today. The geometric style decorations of the Seljuk art on the stone surfaces, regular star polygons, drawing rules, harmony of turquoise colors and patterns on wall surfaces, borders created with symmetry, and the transformation of brick and stone craftsmanship into art represent the peak of artistic perspective. In this study, it is aimed to analyze the ornamentation style, material, and technical features of the decorations of Malatya Battalgazi Grand Mosque in detail, select patterns suitable for illumination art, analyze them geometrically and ornamentally, and produce original designs with illumination art. Additionally, it aims to serve as a source for researchers, designers, artists, and studies related to the field, contributing to the literature. For this purpose, the study was conducted using two methods, literature review, and field research. The decorations of the Battalgazi Grand Mosque located within the borders of Battalgazi district of Malatya province were investigated, and it was observed that it is possible to use these decorations with various compositions. As a result of the literature review, various studies on the decorations of the mosque were determined. However, this study is original in terms of reinterpreting the decorations by considering the illumination art and ornamentation characteristics of the mosque's decorations. It is essential to examine and evaluate historical artifacts like mosque decorations not only from an architectural perspective but also from the perspective of their ornamentation features, as they are a common heritage of history. This study is also crucial in terms of guiding conservation and restoration practices.