The art of beautiful writing on show

20 artists display Arabic calligraphy at the BurJuman Centre


The Arab Calligraphy group is holding an exhibition at BurJuman Centre featuring a collection of Islamic calligraphy by 20 leading Arab artists as part of Dubai Summer Surprises. The exhibition was inaugurated by Khalid Al Shaikh, Assistant Director of Administration and Finance, Department of Health and Medical Services (DoHMS).

Saeed Mohamed Al Nabouda, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Summer Surprises, Abdul Rahman Aughan, Director of International Relations and Information at DoHMS, Dr. Salah Al Qassem, Head of DSS Color Surprises Committee and Eisa Adam Ibrahim, General Manager of BurJuman Centre, were also present at the inauguration ceremony.

The exhibition featured several works bearing beautiful calligraphy using verses from the Holy Quran by Arab artists from the UAE, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Sudan. It reflects a historic kind of writing that existed in the Arab world centuries ago and passed down from generation to generation marking the progression worldwide. Visitors to BurJuman can view the display daily from 10:00am to 10:00pm until July 9.

Dr. Salah Qassem said, "This colourful exhibition in association with the Arab Calligraphy Group reflects the rich and vibrant diversity of our region and presents an insight into the Arab and Islamic Culture."

The exhibition also includes workshops for the visitors from different nationalities to create awareness about the movement and the different techniques of calligraphy.

Khalid Al Sai, a calligraphy expert from Syria and member of the Arab Calligraphy Group said, "The workshops explain and teach visitors the basic form of Arabic calligraphy and encourages them to try their hand.

"Some people are more aware than others and this allows us to take them to further levels of creating artistic pieces. Workshops proved to be interesting and attractive as visitors come and stay for hours trying different techniques."

Other artists and calligraphers at the exhibition are: Narjis Nooradin, Mohammad Mandi, Mohammad Essa Khalfan, Khalid Ali Al Jalaf, Habib Saeed, Majida Saleem, Fatima Saeed (UAE), Wissam Shawkat, Salah Shirzad, Mohammad Al Noori, Ali Nada Addori, Adnan Ashrifi (Iraq), Husam Abdulwahab (Egypt), Mowafaq Basal (Lebanon), Mohammad F. Alhadad, Mohammad Rida Bilai, Shukri Suwaidane, Jamal Bustan (Syria), Tagelsir Hassan (Sudan).

The Arab Calligraphy Group was founded within the Emirates Scientific Club in Dubai. Members of the group were from the elite of Emirates calligraphers as well as the expatriate calligraphers. The first activities carried by the group were continuous training sessions to teach Arabic Calligraphy at the Club.