Celebrating Arabic Calligraphy: 14 Exhibitions at the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial, Hosted by Sharjah Art Museum and Emirates Fine Arts Society

Celebrating Arabic Calligraphy: 14 Exhibitions at the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial, Hosted by Sharjah Art Museum and Emirates Fine Arts Society

Sharjah –

As part of the 11th edition of the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial, His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Culture Department, and Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of Cultural Affairs and Biennial Director, along with the attendance of Her Excellency Aisha Rashid Dimas, General Director of the Sharjah Museums Authority, inaugurated 14 exhibitions celebrating the Arabic script and its aesthetic energy at the Sharjah Art Museum and the Emirates Fine Arts Society.

The biennial is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and will continue until the end of next month, furthering the biennial's role in highlighting the authentic Islamic artistic heritage of Arabic calligraphy.

The Sharjah Art Museum hosted 13 parallel exhibitions featuring artists from various countries. The titles of the exhibitions are as follows: "Innerscapes" by Jaafar Alhaddad (Bahrain), "Engraved" by Saeed Gamhawi (Saudi Arabia), " Heliographies Of Memory" by Said Dokins and Leonardo Luna (Mexico), "Inscriptions" by Sneakhotep (Algeria), "Re-lief" by Sabah Arbilli (UK), "Monologue" by Abdallah Alastad (UAE), " Drafts and Inscription" by Akil Ahmad (Syria), "Golden Echoes" by Omar Safa (Lebanon), "The Power of Love" by Camilo Rojas (Colombia), "Infinity" by Cryptic (USA), "The Poem of Craft and Heritage" by Mahajati Studio (Singapore), "Reflection" by Mahdi Saidi (USA), and "Spiritual Engineering" by Nasser Al Salim (Saudi Arabia).

Al Owais, Al Qaseer, and the attendees toured the exhibitions, observing visual compositions that express diverse artistic visions while remaining rooted in the authenticity and aesthetic essence of Arabic calligraphy, reflecting the spirit of the biennial's theme "Inscriptions"

With a remarkable turnout interacting with the exhibited works, the artists played a role in describing and explaining the formation of the artistic structure from its early periods. Attendees listened to numerous ideas that contributed to a significant creative achievement in Arabic calligraphy.

The exhibitions present a modern vision of Arabic calligraphy. For instance, in the work "An Ode to Heritage and Craftsmanship," it reflects Mahajati's philosophy of preserving an everlasting craft legacy, a rich tradition passed down through generations. Despite the prevalence of mechanically produced artworks in large quantities, Mahajati has retained this craft, which holds a prestigious place and is embodied in their wood carving works.

The "Reflection" collection by Mahdi Saeedi represents an important development in his artistic journey, relying on innovative uses of letters. The collection presents pioneering techniques, merging traditional calligraphy with contemporary artistic styles.

A notable innovation in this work is the integration of mirrors with calligraphy, the first of its kind in artistic exploration. Saeedi uses mirrors strategically placed at a 90-degree angle to reflect linear compositions, creating dynamic visual effects. This approach transforms abstract calligraphy into tangible forms, merging tradition with modernity.

Using a color linear abstraction style, Emirati artist Abdullah Al Astad presents phrases and words in a compressed manner, with letters stacked on top of each other while contrasting and clearly defining the joints between them.

His work highlights the twists and fluidity of the letters. Despite their overlaps and the repetition of letter forms, they establish a visual dimension upon which color and meaning are built.

"Calligraphic Inscriptions "
At the Emirates Fine Arts Society, attendees were greeted with the "Calligraphic Inscriptions" exhibition by Egyptian artist Hossam Abdel Wahab.

Abdel Wahab’s visions stem from a rich Arab imagination, steeped in the roots of Arabic calligraphy. Throughout his artistic endeavors, he has been preoccupied with making the Arabic letter—with its symbols and cultural and civilizational connotations—the cornerstone of his diverse artistic works.

The "Calligraphic Inscriptions" exhibition harmonizes with the theme of the 11th edition of the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial 2024, affirming the completion of the visual, symbolic, calligraphic, and even digital achievement present in the artist’s works, which range among various forms of Arabic calligraphy and number 76 pieces. Viewers will find that this exhibition delves deeply into the linguistic memory of the artist, revealing creativity that is both precise and beautiful.