Sharjah: The Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial has started to receive submissions for participation in its eleventh edition, set to commence in October of the upcoming year.
The event, which will take place over two months and include contributions from local, Arab, and international participants, is organized by the Cultural Affairs Department at the Department of Culture in Sharjah and is sponsored by Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council member and ruler of Sharjah.
The Biennial’s executive committee had previously selected “Taraqim” as the theme for the 11th edition and opened submissions for artists. The committee has received calligraphic works from artists hailing from various countries worldwide, encompassing a spectrum from traditional to modern styles, in preparation for the screening committee’s selection process, which is scheduled for the current month of May. Following this process, the chosen artworks will be featured in the Biennial.
Mohammad Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Cultural Affairs Department at the Department of Culture in Sharjah and the Biennial’s Director, remarked that, “The Biennial has evolved into a global platform, thanks to the generous support and patronage of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, positioning it as a bridge that brings cultures closer together.”
Al Qaseer emphasized that the Biennial’s international stature, which welcomes submissions from a wide range of nations, is demonstrated by the large number of calligraphic works that have been submitted. He also pointed out that the chosen pieces capture the essence and vision of the occasion, revitalizing the way Arabic calligraphy is presented.
The Biennial’s major award is worth $15,000. There are also three prizes worth $8k each for the “Traditional” category and three prizes worth $8,000 each for the modern calligraphic arts. Moreover, the judging committee awarded a special reward of $8,000 to Emirati calligraphers.
Two divisions make up the Biennial’s general exhibition: “Traditional” and “Modern Calligraphic Arts.” In creating traditional calligraphic artworks, one must adhere to creative and aesthetic traditions and showcase both traditional and different styles. Known artistic formats, including circular compositions, squares, rectangles, ornaments, Diwani scripts, and Kufic letters, are among the tools used in this process.
The latter segment includes contemporary calligraphic arts, which use a variety of artistic methods and include letter-based artworks, sculptures, spatial compositions, and conceptual and installation arts.