Artdayme: Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, chairman of the Sharjah Ruler's Office has, this Monday morning, inaugurated “Journey of a Letter” exhibition , by artist and calligrapher Wissam Shawkat, held at Sharjah Calligraphy Museum.

The opening was in the presence of Mohammad Ahmad Al Murr, Chairman of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, Salem Ali Salem Ahmed Al Muhairi Chairman of Sharjah Municipality Council, Asma Rashid Bin Taliah, Secretary-General of the Executive Council of the emirate of Sharjah, and Aisha Rashid Deemas, Director General of Sharjah Museums Authority.

The exhibition, organised by the Sharjah Museums Authority at the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, from September 25 to November 30, aims to promote the culture of arts and Arabic calligraphy, and to provide an opportunity for calligraphers and artists by hosting annual exhibitions that contribute to consolidating the status of Arabic calligraphy and its role in enhancing the Arts scene.

This also aims to inspire young artists by sharing distinctive experiences, in addition to reaching a broader audience locally and globally.

About Wissam Shawkat

Born in Basra in Iraq in 1974, the artist has become a celebrated figure in Arabic calligraphy, garnering numerous accolades within the artistic community, thanks to his relentless effort and unwavering commitment.

Wissam has had many solo shows and has participated in many group exhibitions. His calligraphy and typography designs have appeared in several books and magazines about art and design.

He has been a pivotal member and artist on the judging panels of both the Sharjah Biennial for Arabic Calligraphy and the Dubai International Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition. 

Based in the UAE, Shawkat works as a full-time artist and typographer. His creations are frequently featured in books on Arabic calligraphy, exhibited in art galleries and museums, and collected by art aficionados. 

He also held his solo exhibition, "Letters of Love" showcasing his contemporary works to a global audience at the Reed Space Gallery in New York, 2011. 

Since 2003 he has been working on a new script named after himself (Al Wissam Style), and in recent years, he started ‘Calligraforms’, an art movement that merges the graphic qualities found in classic letterforms and western Abstraction and Cubism.