05 Nov ON NOW: “Modernism” at the Ara Gallery

13 Arabic calligraphers presented by the Dubai Arabic Calligraphy Center, an initiative by His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

Exhibiting: Taj Al Ser Hassan, Wissam Shawkat, Mohammed Mandi, Khalid Al Jallaf, Sherin Abdel Saber, Amor Al Jomni, Muneer Al Sharani, Khalid Al Saee, Ali Toy, Sabah Al Arbilli, Hassan Al Massoud, Mohammed Amzil, Ali Al Baddah“
The word “Modernity” represents the coping and interacting with social, cultural, and artistic trends of life during a certain era, as each age has its own concepts, instruments, and technologies that translate the ideas, visions, and concepts of people into reality. It involves a renewal in the forms of artistic performance, whether it is in the language, design, colors, raw materials, and technologies used. These processes result in works that are in harmony with the spirit and requirements of the age, taking the effects of other cultures that leak into ours through social interactions, especially through contemporary multimedia channels and the simultaneous provision of information and updates of human thought. Modernism and contemporaneity have been going on in the human mind since the dawn of history in art, literature, traditions, and practices. In calligraphy, developments have left a mark in this art since its beginnings and throughout history. Reviewing the extensive history of Arabic calligraphy and the trends of artistic movement during the last three decades, taking into account the perspective of Dubai Arabic Calligraphy Center, this exhibition, “Modernism”, was organized to cope with modern aesthetic formulations, accomplished by the rules, norms, and ethics of Arabic calligraphy.

“Modernism” catalogues featuring these artists, essays, and 50 artworks – including many not currently on display in the exhibition – are available to purchase at Ara for 35 dhs.