Artist Statement
I have always believed that calligraphy can have a dynamic effect on the way we see and understand the world. Words are essential tools of communication, but in a rapidly evolving world, the forms in which these words are rendered must reflect our time and place. I think that tradition is to be highly respected, but not imitated: we should build upon these foundations freely.
Although my work can be described as a departure from classical Islamic calligraphy, I have never lost sight of the many years of evolution that has shaped every Arabic letter into remarkable beauty. In my recent works, the viewer can clearly detect classical scripts such as Thuluth, Kufic and Diwani, yet in new forms and compositions that reflect the vibrancy of contemporary culture.
2013
This project was part of Sharjah Biennial 11
Artwork Images
Basmala
Wissam Shawkat
2012
Ink and acrylic colours on handmade paper
100 x 33 cm
Installation view
Photo by Jamaluddin Shanavas
Related
Shawkat, Wissam
Wissam Shawkat is a calligrapher born in Al Basra, Iraq
March Meeting 2013: Towards a New Cultural Cartography
This publication takes as its starting point Yuko Hasegawa’s curatorial concept for Sharjah Biennial 11: Re:Emerge – Towards a New Cultural Cartography and March Meeting 2013.