Art Aceh basically characterized by a very real, yes it was Islam therein. This is because the Islamic influence is very large in the lives of the Acehnese people, especially in the lives of the people of Aceh in the past. 

In contemporary Acehnese Islam is still seen as an essential value and still very great influence even besides that, the influence of modern culture began to grow as well. In other words, a shift has occurred. In fact in some of the value conflicts in the values of the people of Aceh despite Islamic values are still dominant. 

Let us look briefly about some of the cultural history and art of Aceh among the many cultural and artistic pride of the people of Aceh. 

Seudati. 

Seudati is a blend of dance art, sound art, literary arts, because apart from the dancing, the perpetrators also pretty convincing stories in rhyme composed and sung with a variety of songs, at the beginning of its history, it functioned as Seudati hero dance performed to remove troops that would go into the field of fighting in the war against the enemy, - welcomed the troops home from the war, especially when the troops come home with victory, the media propaganda, as in the spoken rhyming story that can be tucked into a variety of teaching needs to preached . 

However, since then the arts are very popular with the people, it is also held at other times, even villages. Finally, the function became popular entertainment and a collection fee dipertandingkan. At first not all night, but when the match took place reverb story, because each of them not to be outdone, the day finally arrived this morning, the sun that separates the two sides, as a result of all those who enjoy such entertainment was forced to sleep through the night, no time rizki for shopping for the household, besides that, over time also side effects, namely, adultery and theft occurred villages concerned and the adjacent, because of that hate Acehnese ulama, even mengharamkannya, illegitimate gambling, not unlawful zaty, meaning not unlawful Seudati or arts, but forbidden because of the side effects that damage the public, if this can be avoided no matter. 

The perpetrators Seudati consists of eight dancers plus one or more children Seudati good voice, because the Seudati consists of eight so-called warrant comes from the Arabic which means eight, and because the game told a variety of games, especially when, then called ratooh. 

Dancers clothing consisted of a long-sleeved shirt, black pants or white rather precarious in the knees and silk sarong wrapped around dipinggang doubled, then side Rencong plah blade, a symbol of Acehnese heroine tied premises dihulunya yellow or green cloth, led by the belt silk negligee in the Acehnese language is called "silk tangkulok" 

Because Seudati very liked by all the people of Aceh, in the conference Pusa (All Aceh Ulama Association) that took place in Kutaradja (now Banda Aceh) in 1964 also discussed the ruling, for this purpose then formed a team of reviewers consisting of figures dijawatan religious duty residency Aceh, but because the situation has not allowed because even during a physical struggle against the Dutch who wanted to re-colonize Indonesia again, there is also added between the team members had died, so the team could not finish the job. But in these meetings there has been a bright spot, if only in its implementation can be avoided things negative. 

Laweut 

Laweut words derived from the word "seulaweut" (seulaweut in the Indonesian language) is also a dance between art, sound art and literary arts. This dance is more like a dance Seudati, only the perpetrators are girls, because it is also called by the name "Seudati Inong" (Seudati Women) Tarin Seudati comes from Aceh Pidie. 


Islamic elements in art. 

Fine art also developed in Aceh, but their development does not stand out now as the situation in the past, developing art in Aceh is the art of architecture, sculpture, and art in making embroidery, weaving, ceramics, and Rencong meukutop cap, sculpture and painting is not developed in the past, of both painting only emerging now, because no growth of sculpture and painting in the past in Aceh as well as Islamic teachings. 

After the arrival of the Islamic religion hindu influence in Aceh is removed, it was forbidden to make statues or pictures of animate beings, both human and animals, the ban was based on the hadith it is: "who paint or draw a picture, then he will be tortured god until she could give him a soul, but forever is not possible to give a painting or sculpture was dead "(Salih Kasim, 1986). 


Architecture 

Reflected in the current rumoh Aceh still remains, the form of traditional Acehnese house was extended from east to west which made such intention is to make it easier to determine the direction of Qiblah. Dibagian the west and the east parallel with the horses and it's a little out there starting wind (tulak angen) a fully contain carvings which are derived from calligraphic verses of the Qur'an. 

Similarly, at the door of the house which is also called Pinto Aceh and on the screen and window frames are also carvings of natural motifs (eg interest) and Arabic calligraphy. In addition, in establishing a traditional Acehnese house established religious ritual, like a peusijuek, that it was actually the remnants of the culture before Islam came, the animism and dynamism that smells of magic, but the ceremony has included the teachings of Islam, such as Islamic prayers when the event was finished building a house, besides the things mentioned above may be also traced the Islamic elements contained in the architecture Rumoh Aceh (Aceh House), for example, from the structure of the rooms contained within the existing house relation to the roles than the inhabitants. So the Islamic element in the art of architecture in Aceh is very clear. 


Matting 

Wicker developed in Aceh until now, but still advanced in the hinterlands, but the area is already perkotan minimal matting, matting is made from palm leaves and pandan leaves in the Acehnese language called sikee, matting which is used to make mats, among others is a prayer mat and the mat of the dead, prayer mat specially made for that purpose (mat mat) and besides that it also shows the elements of Islam. 

The front of the mosque-like dome, and the edges resembling a crocodile's teeth as much as five fruit that symbolizes that a man who is praying should not be doing other activities (eg talking) but it must be kusyuk as if someone had (her) to talk to god. 


Rencong 

Arising Rencong in Aceh is also due to the influence of Islam. Many of the symbols on the show Rencong Islamic elements in it. In the book written by T. Rencong Syamsyuddin and M. Nur Abbas (1981:5) explained the meaning of the symbols on the Rencong as follows: 

- Rencong a curved handle and wide in the arab characters berupakan elbow BA 

- Bujuran grasp the handle where a script SIN 

- The forms of declining pointed down at the base of the stem is steel MIM characters 

- Row-iron columns at the base of the handle until the end of the script LAM 

- The ends are sharp with the flat side up and slightly curved bottom to top is the alphabet HA. 

Series of letters from BA, MIM, LAM, and the HA said that realization, thus clear that Rencong manifestations of al-Quran verses in the shape of a sharp tool used as a tool of war to defend Islam from the drive pushing the anti-Islamic . 

Islamic elements can also be traced from how to make it. to create a Rencong is sometimes done in a way unseen to the sort of metal or metal material with a finger Rencong with incantations of the verse of al-Quran that he was really powerful as a weapon. 

Here's a glimpse of art and about culture filled with religious values and heroic, far more than the generation of Acehnese who are not familiar will the culture of their ancestors, they will know more about foreign cultures (Western culture) that did not fit the our culture be an Acehnese society is a dilemma for the preservation of our culture is this love, when we should be proud of our culture that are different from other cultures in this world. 

All parties must rise up and unite to save our culture, all we have to have a sense of belonging and a sense of love terhadapa our culture, every nation will not forget the nation's culture will lose identity. Let's revived sense of love for our culture to all of our generation since early before it's too late.