Islamic art exhibition in Dubai celebrates Ramadan spirit

As each corner of Dubai celebrates Ramadan in its own unique way, the Ara Gallery's walls welcome the holy month by exhibiting intricate artworks at an exhibition of Islamic art entitled "A Verse Imprinted/Islamic Art”.

Held under the Patronage of Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the calligraphy and illumination exhibition opened on June 4 and will last until the end of August. During Ramadan, the exhibition has taken a spiritual turn, displaying artworks showcasing verses from Quran, prayers and poetry.

Twelve superb calligraphers from all over the globe are participating in the exhibition, according to Laurel Munshower, the Assistant Manager of Ara Gallery. Each calligrapher has their own different style drawn from their personal or educational backgrounds and resulting in different interpretations of the letters and the calligraphy compositions.

The pieces on display reflect the beauty of Islamic art and aim to shed light on the history and development of Islamic calligraphy. The calligraphy works are written in different scripts known as Thuluth, Diwani, Diwani Jali, Al Wissam, and Ruq'ah.

One such piece is by Saudi calligrapher Majid Al Yousef entitled "If ye are grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you", which highlights the value of thanking Allah for blessings so that they may be increased.

Al Yousef, who has four calligraphy works on display, said: "In this event, the concept was to bring the essence of calligraphy with all its diverse styles and substantial beauty and present it to different types of viewers in modern days."

What makes this exhibition unique is that it sheds light on various attributes of classical calligraphy and illumination art, he added.

Al-Yousef used various scripts and ink types to package each piece with a different story. For example, he replicated one of his ancient calligraphy works called "Give Me the Flute and Sing" by writing it again with a different ink and brush, creating a new saga for the same piece.

In addition to traditional art, contemporary pieces creating a bridge between classical and modern styles are also on display. These elements make this event stand out from other calligraphy exhibitions.

Nargis Noureddine, a calligrapher from Abu Dhabi, has four works on show in the exhibition. She said: "I was inspired by the poet Rousha Al Swaidi and I wanted to deliver her life story through my calligraphy work."

She added that working in the Women Museum in Abu-Dhabi allowed her to explore the beauty of Al Swaidi's poems. Noureddine has been creating calligraphy work for more than 13 years and many of her works are exhibited all over the Arab and Western world.

Munshower said the event allows visitors to enjoy calligraphy at a time when many galleries are closed.

Surrounded by a distinctive collection of calligraphy, each visitor may be touched by a different art piece. Even if some works share the same font or style, they vary in the spirit and depth of experience put into it by the calligrapher.

The exhibition has garnered a significant response, with large number of visitors attending since the opening. "The visitors came from different cultural and educational backgrounds, as well as different specialties and experience which results in very unique feedback and reception," said Al Yousef.