São Paulo – For the Arabs, their writing is more than a form of expressing texts, it is a way of expressing art. Thus, Arabic calligraphy today has six basic styles that provide the origin for around 350 other styles derived from the main ones. Thanks to this immense variation, calligraphy has become one of the most important forms of art in the countries of North Africa and the Middle East, decorating houses and palaces, museums and mosques. This is the art that the Lebanese Moafak Dib Helaihel shows the Brazilians in his "Caligrafia Árabe" (Arabic Calligraphy) book.
Recently released, the work took a year and a half for production. "It tells the story of Arabic scrip since the beginning of times," said Helaihel. "It is extremely didactic, giving step-by-step instructions as to how to prepare the paint and the reed pen (used for Arabic calligraphy)," he explained. According to the author, who was born in the city of Baalbeck, in Lebanon, but who lives in Curitiba, in Paraná, his book is the first in Portuguese to cover Arabic calligraphy in an instructive manner.
"It is part of the people. Calligraphy is based on geometry," said Helaihel. "It is part of the decoration of the Arab countries at homes, mosques and castles," he pointed out. Graduated in History and Geography by the University of Beirut, Helaihel is post-graduated from the Sharjah Arabic Calligraphy Centre, in the United Arab Emirates. He explains that the first style in which Arabic calligraphy was registered was Kufi. "It is a very archaic style, more rigid and angular," said Helaihel, who gives calligraphy classes. For those interested in learning this art, the beginning is in style Riq’ai, then going into Naskh, Diwani and Taliq, before arriving at Thuluth, "the most detailed style, in which great studies are necessary," explained the calligrapher.
According to Helaihel, In Brazil people who normally want to learn Arabic scrip are those who already deal with art. To start the course, he says, it is necessary for students to know at least the Arabic letters. "When I am going to teach a course, first of all I teach the alphabet, so they know what they are doing," he explained. Regarding the material used in calligraphy, the reed pen is used, an instrument made out of bamboo, and Arab ink, a mixture of powder, gum Arabic and water. Hard to find? You may use India ink, said Helaihel, explaining that it is the ink that is most similar to Arab ink.
In a large part, Arabic calligraphy works bring verses of the Koran, as well as poetry and Arab proverbs, but there may also be free forms of letter movement, explained the author. He said that, to learn the six basic styles of calligraphy it takes between a year and a half and two years of study, whereas to have complete training in the art of Arabic calligraphy, it takes five years of dedication.
Service
Title: Caligrafia Árabe
Author: Moafak Dib Helaihel
Bibliaspa publishing house – May only be acquired from Bibliaspa (Telephone: +55 11 3661-0904)
Price: R$ 80 (US$ 51)
*Translated by Mark Ament
