Dubai’s Mestaria Gallery Presents Wissam Shawkat
Mestaria Gallery’s upcoming exhibition features Iraqi artist and calligrapher Wissam Shawkat. Running from November 11 to December 11, the exhibition titled *Calligraformism* presents Wissam’s innovative approach to Arabic calligraphy, where traditional forms meet modern abstraction. His work transcends language and cultural boundaries, offering a visual experience defined by movement and form.
Internationally recognised for his contributions to contemporary Arabic calligraphy, Wissam has earned acclaim for his unique style, "Al Wissam." This signature approach blends the classical beauty of Arabic scripts with modern design principles, honouring the integrity of the Arabic alphabet while expanding its expressive possibilities. This innovation has solidified Wissam’s reputation as a leader in the global calligraphy scene.
From this foundation, Wissam developed *Calligraforms*, a groundbreaking style that transforms Arabic letters into abstract, fluid shapes, liberated from their traditional roles as linguistic symbols. Drawing from both Arabic calligraphic traditions and European abstract movements like Cubism and Bauhaus, *Calligraformism* bridges East and West, making his work accessible and relevant to a global audience.
More than just an art style, *Calligraformism* is an artistic philosophy. Wissam’s approach reimagines Arabic letters as aesthetic forms, celebrating their inherent beauty beyond their function in written language. As he describes, "Each letter has a life and energy of its own. By magnifying their details and removing the constraints of the text, I aim to reveal their hidden beauty.”
Rooted in the elegance of the Thuluth script, Wissam's work infuses classical calligraphy with abstraction, turning letters into dynamic, flowing shapes that challenge the rigidity of their traditional structure. As he reflects on a quote from Pablo Picasso, “Learn the rules so you know how to break them,” Wissam embraces innovation by respecting the history of calligraphy while courageously pushing its boundaries.
