"I'M fascinated by the look of Arabic script. It's out of this world. If Spielberg invented a new alphabet for aliens discovered on another planet, it would be Arabic script!" writes the Australian Ivan Raszel in his website creativebits.org. It is the beauty of Arabic calligraphy, samples of which Raszel has seen on the Internet, which has attracted him to Arabic calligraphy, describing it as "a form of art that surpasses all others". If you too want to admire and learn more about it, then an exhibition entitled “Arabic Calligraphy”, being held in Cairo, is just the thing for you. The five Egyptian calligraphers – Yousri el-Mamluk, Yousri Hassan, Mohamed Hassan, Manal el-Azazi and Salah Abdel-Khaleq – participating in the exhibition have come together with a common purpose, namely to promote calligraphy and revive its prestige. With the advent of graphic design programmes and ‘Photoshop', which has forced many artists to look beyond the written word, one would beforgiven for thinking that these veteran calligraphers are swimming against the tide. Yet they are aspiring artists, whose intricate works reflect the florid nature of Arabic letters and the value of this most ancient of Islamic arts. "The computer is a friend, not an enemy. Our friendship is inspired by my love and passion for Arabic calligraphy. I use the computer to help me do paintings in Arabic script," says Manal el-Azazi, whose classical paintings in the exhibition reflect the new and delicate vision the fairer sex have of this lofty Islamic art. Meanwhile, Yousri Al-Mamluk, 52, has blended Arabic words and plastic arts into aesthetical paintings. "Arabic calligraphy is the oldest and most prominent Islamic art and, in my paintings, I'm trying to promote it in the most innovative and creative way," he told The Egyptian Gazette. "At first I followed the classical path in my works. But firm in my belief that art means creativity, I have blended Arabic writing and the different elements of Islamic art, like decorations and motifs. "Whenever I employ the most innovative plastic art techniques, I try to preserve the spirit and the rules of Arabic calligraphy," he added. In all the fanciful paintings in the exhibition, the flowing Arabic letters are shaped into enticingly shaped sublime words (either verses from Islam's Holy Qur'an, sayings of the Prophet Mohamed or poetry). The most common Arabic scripts which artists use in their works are the Kufic with its variations, el- Naskh, el-Diwani, el-Farsi, el- Thuluth and el-Reqaa. And there are many other Arabic scripts which are no longer in use. What is distinctive about Arabic is that it is the only script in the world to be used in artworks, as the artist can employ it to do a unique painting, pleasing to the eye. Many foreigners have been visiting the exhibition. "They are marvellous works. The writings are complex and have different layers of meaning," says a Scotsman, very impressed by what he saw. The ‘Arabic Calligraphy' exhibition, being held in Doroub Gallery, 4, Latin America St., Isis Bldg, Garden City, Cairo (02-2796-2881), runs till June 8. It's open daily from 10am to 9pm, except on Fridays.
