IRCICA is taking part in the International Forum for Arabic Calligraphy and Islamic Ornamentation Exhibition (12-16 August 2024) in Amman, Jordan, with a display of award-winning calligraphy works from the different rounds of the IRCICA International Calligraphy Competition organized every three years since 1986. At the opening of the Forum on 12 August 2024, IRCICA’s activities in the field of Islamic arts in general, calligraphy and illumination in particular, were introduced to the audiences by Prof. Cengiz Tomar, Head of Research and Publications of IRCICA. A presentation focusing on the calligraphy competitions was made by Mr. Said Kasımoğlu, Chief of the Arts and Handicrafts Section. The Forum features panel sessions and various institutions’ exhibitions relating to Islamic calligraphy and ornamentation.
IRCICA’s partnership in the Forum is another step forward in its fruitful cooperation established with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the field of arts. Earlier, IRCICA participated in the 6th International Forum on Arabic Calligraphy and Ornamentation which was held in Aqaba on 24-27 May 2023.
IRCICA would like to share Jafra News’ below comprehensive coverage of the Amman Forum opening and events.
Jafra News – The CEO of the Arab Potash Company, Dr. Maen F. Nsour, opened on Tuesday, August 12, the Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition, organized by the Jordanian Forum for Arabic Calligraphy and Islamic Ornamentation, at Cairo-Amman Bank’s Gallery. The event is placed within the framework of the Kingdom’s celebrations of the silver jubilee of His Majesty the King of Jordan assuming his constitutional powers.
The exhibition, to continue until August 16, includes 75 plates of Arabic calligraphy, highlighting the aesthetical features and types of script of this art such as thuluth, riq’a, and naskh, in addition to works of Islamic decoration and illumination using ink and dyes, as well as other paintings that combine Arabic calligraphy and contemporary plastic art by copying verses from the Holy Qur’an, as well as some noble prophetic hadiths, Arabic poetry, and famous sayings.
Following the opening, Dr. Nsour expressed his pride in the high level of the Jordanian calligrapher, his creative abilities and talents, which were evident through the paintings displayed, which reflected the aesthetics of Arabic calligraphy, which represents our identity and our Arab and Islamic civilization, pointing out that the exhibition raises awareness of the importance of Arabic calligraphy as a characteristic of Arab culture and Islamic arts. Dr. Nsour pointed out that the participation of great calligraphers from outside Jordan in this exhibition enriches this Jordanian event and places it on the map of international exhibitions of Arabic calligraphy, Islamic decoration and composition. Dr. Nsour said that promoting and preserving the Arabic language and the Arabic calligraphy, which is the visual translation of the beauty of its content, is a collective responsibility entrusted to all institutions and individuals alike, so that our language remains a source of our pride, a source of honour, and an element of our renaissance for our future generations.
Then, Mr. Jamal Al-Maghrabi, President of the Jordanian Forum for Arabic Calligraphy, expressed his admiration for the high level of the works displayed and stressed that the forum attaches great importance to cultural and artistic work due to its positive repercussions on the cultural progress of peoples. Al-Maghrabi added that the Jordanian Forum for Arabic Calligraphy was established in 2016 to promote Arabic calligraphy, which is considered one of the most important tools of the Arabic language that we cherish and which God honoured by being the language of the Holy Quran. He added that the Jordanian Forum was holding Arabic calligraphy exhibitions inside the Kingdom and also conducted calligraphy courses and workshops to introduce Jordanian society with the importance and place of Arabic calligraphy in our Arab-Islamic heritage. Al-Maghrabi confirmed that the Forum continues to serve the Arabic language by paying attention to Arabic calligraphy, Islamic architecture and decoration, and stated that preparations have begun to hold a global exhibition of Arabic calligraphy, Islamic decoration and architecture in Jordan during the next year.
For his part, Arab calligrapher Muthanna Al-Obaidi praised the level of works displayed at the Jordanian Forum for Arabic Calligraphy exhibition this year and added that Jordan has become a cradle for the art of Arabic calligraphy as a result of the interest of relevant institutions in developing the capabilities of Jordanian calligraphers.
It is noteworthy that the participants in the exhibition came from various Arab and Islamic countries.
