Arabic Calligraphy Is Middle East's Modern Beauty
Posted by Zaufishan Arabic, Art-Features, european muslims, events, islamic arts, Islamic-Art, Middle-East, muslim designers, pop culture, shows Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wonder world in the heart of London is Lahd's Gallery of Middle Eastern and Islamic art. As a world renowned and royally funded organisation, their brand new exhibition 'Arabic Calligraphy: The Art Of the Written Word' showcases a range of unique and modern perspectives on the ancient Arabic script.
Artists have brought their personal styles in a unique display of heritage from around the world. The art of the written word will see artwork from France, Pakistan, Malaysia, India and Oman. Artists have combined elements of graphic design, fashion and light calligraphy in a fusion of Arabic expression.
Artists At The Exhibit
Drawn to visual art and heavily influenced from meeting Iraqi calligrapher Ghani Alani, Abdallah has a career in script. Having spent a decade in decorating textiles, canvases, wood and glass with Islamic poetry, he now teaches calligraphy at Institute du Monde Arabe.
A contemporary Arabic Calligrapher, Madny Al Bakry lives and works in Muscat, Oman.
It is said that Islamic influences found in Picasso can be traced to his native Spain. Before him the famous artist Paul Cezanne, known as the father of modern art, had been subtly innoculated with the abstract guidelines of Islamic and Arabic calligraphy.
A designer from Oman, Madny's Arabic is 3-dimension stimulation
Arabic lights, Julien Breton fuses traditional script with motion photography
An unorthodox exhibitor, Julien Breton (featured in emel magazine) is completely self-taught and unable to speak Arabic. The French artist has developed his own unique form of virtual calligraphy, based on a Latin-style alphabet and inspired by an Arabic and Eastern aesthetic. With a multi-cultural take on calligraphy, Julien's work incorporates the cultural identity and style of East and West, fusing his ideas with inspiration from western philosophy, hip hop and street art.
If that wasn't enough to make your heart beat faster, an ethical and delicious fashion house, Fashion Compassion, which supports and empowers marginalised and underprivileged women from Asia and the Middle East, will also be showcasing a range of limited edition bags and jewellery inspired by the art of calligraphy at the exhibition. {www.fashioncompassion.co.uk}
About Lahd Gallery
Founded in 2005 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to create a focal point for women artists from the Gulf, Lahd Gallery soon became a well-known exhibition space on the contemporary art scene in the Middle East and has exhibited extensively throughout the Gulf and North African countries. The gallery has already exhibited controversial and provocative pieces from leading Arabic artists to great success. In 2010, Lahd Gallery moved to its present location in London and has since become the foremost gallery promoting contemporary Middle Eastern art.
The gallery is located on 92 Heath Street, London, NW3 1DP and admission to the exhibition is free. Open from Tuesday to Friday (10am–6pm) and Saturday (10–4pm), take a trip to the gallery and indulge in fusion calligraphy for yourself.
For more information visit {Lahd Gallery}.
