An exhibition dedicated to the deceased calligrapher Mohammed Bajnaid has opened in Jeddah
The Sharbatli House-Museum in Historical Jeddah is currently hosting an exhibition dedicated to the work of the famous Saudi artist and calligrapher Mohammed Salem Bajnaid.
The exhibition is part of the Year of Arabic Calligraphy of Saudi Arabia, announced by the Ministry of Culture with the support of the Quality of Life program.
Bajnaid, who died in October 2019, was recognized as one of the most talented calligraphers in the Islamic world. He contributed to the design and embroidery of the Kiswa-the cloth that is draped over the Kaaba in Mecca on the day when pilgrims get to Mount Arafat during the Hajj-and was also the creator of the Kingdom's gift to the United Nations for its headquarters in New York in 1982.
The new exhibition in Jeddah will last until December and will present 21 works by Bajnaid, some of which are verses of the Koran and prophetic hadiths. The event is divided into four main areas: the Ancient House, Family Ties, Knowledge and Patience. It was curated by the artist's grandson Salem Fuzi Bajnaid, who said that the merit of organizing this event belongs to the family and friends (of the artist) in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture.
Salem gave the visitors a tour of the exhibition, explaining that calligraphy is an integral part of Arab culture, and adding that he hopes that this exhibition will help preserve it and pass it on to future generations.
Dutch artist Al-Jawhara said that she visited the exhibition on the day of its opening. “I've never seen any of his work before, " she said. “I was surprised by the complexity and detail of his exquisite calligraphy work. It is simply impossible to move on to the next work without marking the previous one."
Saleh Boghari, the former chairman of the House of Artists, expressed his admiration for the “amazing and wonderful” works presented at the exhibition, noting that Bajnaid used Tulut — widely considered the most complex of the traditional scripts of Islamic calligraphy — for his work, but managed to create his own “unique style”. “It's really an amazingly beautiful (exhibition), " he said.
Source of information:
arabnews.com
The exhibition is part of the Year of Arabic Calligraphy of Saudi Arabia, announced by the Ministry of Culture with the support of the Quality of Life program.
Bajnaid, who died in October 2019, was recognized as one of the most talented calligraphers in the Islamic world. He contributed to the design and embroidery of the Kiswa-the cloth that is draped over the Kaaba in Mecca on the day when pilgrims get to Mount Arafat during the Hajj-and was also the creator of the Kingdom's gift to the United Nations for its headquarters in New York in 1982.
The new exhibition in Jeddah will last until December and will present 21 works by Bajnaid, some of which are verses of the Koran and prophetic hadiths. The event is divided into four main areas: the Ancient House, Family Ties, Knowledge and Patience. It was curated by the artist's grandson Salem Fuzi Bajnaid, who said that the merit of organizing this event belongs to the family and friends (of the artist) in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture.
Salem gave the visitors a tour of the exhibition, explaining that calligraphy is an integral part of Arab culture, and adding that he hopes that this exhibition will help preserve it and pass it on to future generations.
Dutch artist Al-Jawhara said that she visited the exhibition on the day of its opening. “I've never seen any of his work before, " she said. “I was surprised by the complexity and detail of his exquisite calligraphy work. It is simply impossible to move on to the next work without marking the previous one."
Saleh Boghari, the former chairman of the House of Artists, expressed his admiration for the “amazing and wonderful” works presented at the exhibition, noting that Bajnaid used Tulut — widely considered the most complex of the traditional scripts of Islamic calligraphy — for his work, but managed to create his own “unique style”. “It's really an amazingly beautiful (exhibition), " he said.
Source of information:
arabnews.com