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Arabic Calligraphy has been the preferred art of several Kings, Sultans
and Caliphs and has graced many a manuscript or painting from libraries
and private collections, monuments and artifacts. Today, the Arabic
Language has transcended its historical boundaries to meet the demands
of the 21st century.
Dear Friends,
Untitled Art Gallery and Time Center are proud to invite you to
experience THE INVENTION AND REINVENTION OF ARABIC CALLIGRAPHY
showcasing the works of the five renowned artists Jamal Bustan from
Syria, Sami Makarem from Lebanon, Mahmud Taha from Jordan, Golnaz Fathi
form Iran and Nadia Dajani from Jordan.
The acclaimed artists chart the invention of calligraphy since its
inception and its evolution into forms of art using poetry, verses and
sayings.
The preview will take place on Wednesday May 2nd from 6:00 – 9:00pm at
Zara Center, Wadi Saqra Street. The exhibition will run until Saturday
May 12th. A workshop will be held on Thursday May 3rd by Professor Sami
Makarem and artist Jamal Bustan at Zara Center from 4:00 – 6:00pm.
(Kindly RSVP attendance)
Following is a synopsis of each of the participating artists
Born in Qunaitra in the Golan Heights in 1942, Bustan won the
international championship for writing the Holy Quran held in Dubai and
it took him four years to complete it in 2002. To Bustan a calligrapher
is an artist who uses black and white to award the watcher an angle that
is beautiful to perceive. And he finds in calligraphy a medium through
which he can go back to tradition in order to evolve it and take care of
it all at the same time.
After graduating from Michigan University, Dr. Sami Makarem returned to
The American University of Beirut to teach Literature as well as Muslim
thought and Sufism. His artistic talent did not show itself until after
the death of his father, a renowned calligrapher Naseeb Makarem. Sami
uses his brush in water as well as oil colors like he uses his pen not
forgetting coal, only to exude his portrayal of the letter as a never
ending vision transpiring endlessness through color and movement of it
to expose its inherent beauty.
Taha, whose exhibitions have started since 1968 in various show rooms
aims to stimulate what lies behind sculptured silence into lines that do
not allow us to forget its mobility which confirms the beauty balance
that has been created and that evolves itself into communication between
what is seen and what is inherent in his work. This interaction between
the eye and the peace of art forms is a communication between the mental
picture on the one hand, and the senses on the other hand.
Born to a Syrian father and Turkish mother in 1972, Golnaz Fathi has
devoured the world and let it out in a fight for liberty as exuded in
the poems of Nizar Kabbani, the Syrian poet. Her work incorporates
motifs that are both local and global in conception and design. Her
brush strokes on canvas were forms not actual Persian script. Her
dabbling with calligraphy has made it incomprehensible masquerading
across large canvasses as language.
Nadia Dajani was the first Jordanian jeweler to participate in the
exclusive International Jewelry Fair in London in 2006. Working in
various media, leather, copper, silver and gold as well as a new blend
of unique jewelry material Nadia Dajani's collection is inspired by
natural forms, vitality of the symbolism of the written word and in the
art of Arabic calligraphy. Her pieces are hand made contemporary jewelry
inspired by the culture and heritage of Jordan.
Please join us in welcoming the artists for their joint exhibition in
Amman.
All the best,
Shereen Shalhoub
Cell: 079 525 4646
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