Riyadh is the site of artistic and intellectual activities at the King Abdulaziz Public Library to celebrate Arabic calligraphy and its beauty through various events.
According to SPA, the library marked World Arabic Calligraphy Day on August 13, highlighting the art as one of the world’s visual arts. The celebration focused on creative expressions including writing on paper, canvas, and textiles, as well as murals, mosque domes, and plastic art lettering.
The library organized several exhibitions showcasing the diversity of Arabic writing styles, including an International Exhibition of Arabic Calligraphy. This featured a space with over 200 books on calligraphy aesthetics and paintings by renowned masters.
Additional activities included 15 workshops for beginners, youth, and advanced calligraphers, alongside an improvisation competition for children and a shop selling Arabic calligraphy materials.
The library’s collection includes more than 7,000 manuscripts showing various styles and formats, as well as gilded and illuminated calligraphed copies of the Quran and Andalusian documents.
What events did the King Abdulaziz Public Library organize for World Arabic Calligraphy Day? The library organized several exhibitions, including the International Exhibition of Arabic Calligraphy, which featured paintings by renowned masters and over 200 books on the art’s aesthetics. Additionally, the library hosted 15 workshops for youth, beginners, and advanced calligraphers, conducted an improvisation competition for children, and provided a boutique for purchasing Arabic calligraphy materials.
What types of calligraphy expressions were highlighted during the celebrations? The celebrations highlighted Arabic calligraphy as a global visual art through multiple creative expressions. These included traditional writing on paper, canvas, and textiles, as well as more architectural and artistic applications such as lettering on plastic art paintings, wall murals, and the decoration of mosque domes.
What calligraphy collections are preserved at the King Abdulaziz Public Library? The library preserves a rich patrimonial collection consisting of more than 7,000 manuscripts that illustrate diverse formats and styles. This collection includes gilded and illuminated calligraphed manuscripts of the Quran, as well as specific documents and manuscripts from Andalusia that demonstrate the finesse of calligraphy in that region.