Appraising the Use of Artificial Intelligence as a Tool to Feature the Visual Culture in Oman: Visualising the Values of Palm Motifs on Traditional Wooden Doors

Author : Iman Al Harthi

Abstract : Among the most compelling expressions of Oman's Islamic visual heritage are the floral motifs on traditional wooden doors. These forms function as a visual language that encodes values rooted in Islamic art philosophy and are represented digitally to meet current digital demand. However, does artificial intelligence generate images that capture the core meaning and values of heritage symbols, specifically palm motifs on old Omani wooden doors? Palm motifs hold a significant place in Oman, carrying meanings evident in Islamic doctrine. This paper investigates the purity of contemporary representations through AI-generated imagery to depict the values of palm motifs. The methodology combines a symbolic analysis grounded in established studies and original field photography with a critical analysis of AI-generated visual outputs. The analysis documents palm motifs, interprets their meaning within Islamic art, and proposes a set of evaluative criteria calibrated to assess AI image-generation applications’ capacity to convey the symbolic content of the original motifs. The study found that visual culture is neither static nor sealed off from modernity; it possesses the dynamism to engage with artificial intelligence and be recast within contemporary visual language. Considering cultural and Islamic ethics in digital heritage work bridges modernity and traditional symbols.

Keywords : AI-Generated Imagery, Islamic Visual Culture, Omani Wooden Doors, Palm Motifs, Symbolic Meaning Authenticity.

Conference Name : International Conference on Visual Culture and Historical Change (ICVCHC-26)

Conference Place : Salalah, Oman

Conference Date : 30th Jul 2026