Calligraphic Gems

21 young female calligraphers from the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah, the Cultural Affairs Department at the Sharjah Department of Culture has organized the 21st edition of the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival (SIAF). For the first time, the Women Calligraphers Forum is held as part of SIAF in collaboration with the Emirates Society for Arabic Calligraphy and Islamic Ornamentation. The exhibition host 42 calligraphic panels by 21 female calligraphers from the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman.

The opening of the exhibition was inaugurated in the presence of His Excellency Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Department of Culture and Information; Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Farah Qassim Mohammed, Islamic Arts Festival Executive, the respected guests, the artists, and the media.

Although the Forum is the first of its kind; the support of emerging artistic talents is part of an integral cultural project that is implemented under the guidance of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah. This exhibition presents impressive and creative calligraphic works, where the words and letters are combined in various original compositions. The text includes mainly Quranic verses, but also poems and proverbs.

The female calligraphers from UAE are Ruqaiah Mohammed, Sheikha Al Kiyani, Aishah Alhassani, Fatma Alhammadi, Fatmah Aldhahri, Fatmah Aldhanhani, Maryem Al-Balooshi, Mariam Alsahi, Maryam Al Farsi, Maryam Alyamahi, Nada Almaazmi, Haya Al Ketbi, and Wafaa AlKindi.

The rest of calligraphers are from Kuwait: Areej Hamad Alsalem and Asma AlSuraij; from Oman: Asma Al Tamtami and Eman Alabri; from Saudi Arabia: Aman Alwahibi and Fatmah Al Sarami; and from Bahrain: Rebab Abdel Amir and Yusra Ahmed Srour.

His Excellency Abdullah Al Owais is touring the exhibition with Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer and respected guests / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine