Calligraphic carnival begins
sharjah — Artists and calligraphers from around the world are showcasing their works at the 18th Calligraphy Biennial in Sharjah, which will run until June 2.
The biennial themed ‘Jawhar or Essence’ is being organised by the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information (SDCI) under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
As many as 509 works of 227 artists and calligraphers are on display at the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial (SCB).
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Abdullah Al Owais, chairman of the SDCI, said: “We travel in this year’s edition to the core of calligraphy, with fundamental questions, perhaps even philosophically driven research on the essence of the renowned art form in the world of visual creativity. The word ‘Jawhar (essence) serves as the primary concept of SCB in this edition; it will be the guideline to the calligraphers and artists who, together with help us create the tangible manifestation of the biennial.”
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Mattar bin Lahej, a self-taught artist, active painter, sculptor and photographer whose unique work titled Galaxi II, said that it has been honour for him to be one of the elite local and international artists in such great calligraphy carnival.
Carved pieces of steel engraved with excerpts from the Quran, works symbolising speed, power, movement etc form the ‘essence’ of his works displayed at the SCB.
Jamal Al Suwaid, an Emirati artist whose art work is on display at Dubai International Airport, is
The word ‘Jawhar’ serves as the primary concept of SCB in its 18th edition; it will be the guideline to the calligraphers and artists who, together with help us create the tangible manifestation of the biennial.” Abdullah Al Owais, chairman of SDCI
also taking part in the festival. His piece titled Love is a sculpture of two Arabic letter means love.
He said that while exploring photography in the deserts of the UAE, he saw two trees grown so close that the branches were found intertwined. I was inspired by the simplicity of the desert’s nature. Love is to be found through the whole universe. It has the great meaning we love the earth, we love God, we love life and as citizens, we love each other and we love our nation and motherland: The love which instilled in us by our great Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayahn.”
On the human essence
NoorSaab, designer and artist from Britain, said that her work is a study of the essence of ‘Insaan’ — the genderless terminology in Arabic referring to ‘human being’. In a series of prints, a single module — ‘Insaan’evolves through space and time in a constant motion. It forges a journey against a backdrop of an ever-changing framework and environment. She added that the work illustrates the realities of the human existence. “Tragically, e humans tend to engage in auto-destructive forms of conflict and annihilation of one another before realising that we are in essence all the same on this planet.”