House of Wisdom Opens Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition in Sharjah on November 11: Five Sections From Dot to Sentence, Running to January 24, 2027
SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates — The House of Wisdom in Sharjah opened In Due Measure: From Dot to Meaning on November 11, an exhibition exploring the geometric and aesthetic foundations of Arabic calligraphy and the principles of measurement and proportion that shape Arabic letters, from the dot and the alif to words and sentences. It runs until January 24, 2027.
According to the organisers, the exhibition is the final stop of the 12th Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial, organised by the Sharjah Department of Culture under the theme Balance. The show is organised by the department's Cultural Affairs Directorate and the House of Wisdom, in collaboration with the Holy Quran Academy in Sharjah, the Sharjah Museums Authority, the Khawla Art and Culture Foundation and the Barjeel Art Foundation. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture, attended the opening.
The exhibition has five sections. The first, The Dot: Unit of Measurement, explains how the dot determines letter proportions, including the height of the alif, and displays reed pens, sharpening knives, inkwells, pen cases and paper burnishers from the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum. The second, The Letter: Geometry of Beauty, features The Measure of Letters by Khalifa Al Shimi in red Thuluth script. The third, The Word: Rhythm and Composition, shows ten ink-on-paper works created by Sheikha Khawla Bint Ahmed Bin Khalifa Al Suwaidi between 2012 and 2020. The fourth, The Sentence: From Composition to Meaning, features nine works by Al Shimi. The final section, Beyond Measure: Contemporary Practices, features eight works by Iraqi calligrapher Humaid Al Saadi and a sculpture by Nasser Al Salem from the Barjeel Art Foundation collection.
The exhibition also introduces pioneers of Arabic calligraphy, particularly Ibn Muqla, associated with codifying the geometric proportions of Arabic letters, alongside Ibn al-Bawwab and Yaqut al-Musta'simi. Interactive elements include a Dot and Pen Table and a letter-writing table with video demonstrations. Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of the House of Wisdom, said the exhibition aims to help younger generations discover the knowledge, precision and skill behind Arabic calligraphy.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：学习阿拉伯书法的场景（资料图）。，经Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: learning Arabic calligraphy (file photo). , via Wikimedia Commons.
