São Paulo – After a collaboration between 16 Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia and under the supervision of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), “Arabic Calligraphy: Knowledge, Skills, and Practices” was officially added to the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Apart from Saudi Arabia, the other Arab nations which joined the effort were Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates.
Arabic calligraphy is the artistic craft of fluid cursive Arabic writing to convey harmony, grace, and beauty. The skill can be transmitted through formal and informal education and uses the twenty-eight letters of the Arabic alphabet, written from right to left.
Originally intended to make writing clear and legible, calligraphy gradually became an Arab Islamic art for traditional and modern works. The fluidity of Arabic writing offers endless possibilities, even within a single word, as the letters can be stretched and transformed in many ways to create different shapes.
Traditional techniques use natural materials such as reeds and bamboo stalks for the qalam, the writing instrument. A mixture of honey, black soot, and saffron is used for the ink, and the paper is handcrafted and treated with starch, egg whites, and alum, a chemical compound. Modern calligraphy often uses pens, permanent markers, and synthetic ink. Spray paint is used for calligraphy on walls, signs, and buildings. Artisans and designers also use Arabic calligraphy for artistic enhancement, such as marble and wood carving, embroidery, and metal engraving.
Calligraphy played a vital role in developing the Arabic language throughout history, gaining importance for its use in religious texts. For centuries, it contributed to the transfer and spread of Arab culture, customs, and spiritual values, instilling in the process a sense of pride and belonging among Arabs.
Today, Arabic calligraphy remains extremely popular and is used by artists and designers in a wide variety of means, including paintings, sculpture, graffiti, and “calligraffiti.”
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
