‘Rhythm of the Alphabet’ exhibition opens

A colourful calligraphic painting depicting the famous Arabic phrase ‘Tamim Al Majd’ now ubiquitous in Qatar hangs prominently on the wall of Gallery 1 at Katara’s Building 19.

The painting along with four others were created by Doha-based Syrian artist Rami Khouri as a tribute to Qatar and serves as a highlight of the ‘Rhythm of the Alphabet’ exhibition which opened yesterday.

Thirty-five paintings made by Khouri’s creative hands feature his debut exhibition in his painstaking effort to create his own mark in the art world by devising new Arabic fonts that go beyond the rules.

“This is my first exhibition which is a result of four years of hard work. Arabic calligraphy includes too many restrictions and rules. However, I did not follow any certain pattern or style in my drawings, as I made the letters as an integral element of my drawings,” he told local media.

The acrylic paintings are an ode to the beauty of Arabic calligraphy portraying Arabic letters as flowing freely in an explosion of colours.

“For decades, Arabic calligraphy has been an integral part in various types of arts for the promotion of the Arabic language. This stems from being unique among all other languages in the world in terms of its shapes and diversity so that such letters create stunning drawings rarely seen in other languages,” he said.

He added, “In my works, I tried to break the patterns of the letters and render their lines into boundless shapes and elements that carry the essence and character of the Arabic Calligraphy.”

Each painting carries a message through well-selected phrases that are recognized within the Muslim community and accurately refer to noble ethics and values of Islam.

A polyptych comprising nine panels is one of the eye-catching works in the exhibition which runs until August 14.
An interior designer by trade, the artist, who has been in Qatar for 15 years, said revealed plans to create his own Arabic fonts which be installed and used in writing as well as hold another exhibition next year. He thanked Katara for its efforts and providing him the opportunity and platform to showcase his works.

Katara General Manager Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti lauded the exhibition for presenting Arabic calligraphy as a dynamic technique as well as the artist’s use of varied styles that breathe life to the Arabic letters.

“The exhibitions we offer at the Cultural Village Foundation- Katara highlight a clear diversity in the ideas of artists and the ways each of them approach the fine-art field, which clearly contributes to knowledge exchange between artists. In addition, the artistic platform provided at Katara contributes to enrich the artistic and cultural scene,” said Al Sulaiti.