Literature Review
Calligraphy Museum/Center
Research Question: Why is Calligraphy important in preserving Arabic language?
Abstract
As an Emirati and Arabian Designer, I would like to have a hand in preserving our mother language which is clearly in danger these days due to the strong domination of English language in our region. In order to achieve that as a designer, I have to attract teenagers to Arabic calligraphy and show them its unique beauty that focuses in its beautiful visual forms with its deep meanings. Therefore, I choose to do a Calligraphy museum/center that will also aesthetically support my aim in Manarat Al Saadiyat in the art studio section. I would like to create a place where people would be able to see, learn, experience, and enjoy at the same time.
Sources:
1. The Importance of Arabic: Mother Tongue of Islam and its Impact on Western Knowledge and Culture
Uraif, M. K. (2011). The Importance of Arabic: Mother Tongue of Islam and its Impact on Western Knowledge and Culture. NAAAS & Affiliates Conference Monographs, 796-805. Retrieved from
This source shows the importance of Arabic as a language in many aspects which makes it one of the most important languages around the world. Mohammed which is the writer of this journal claims that Arabic is important historically, religiously, linguistically, and politically, which makes it a very influential language worldwide. This is due to the large population of its speakers and its powerful impact on other languages such as Greek, Latin, English, Spanish, French, Russian, and Turkish. They all include some Arabic words that can be used in daily life due to its big role in their history as well.
2. Institute de Monde Arabe: The Champion of Arab Art
Westley, H. (2012, November 20). Institut du Monde Arabe: the champion of Arab art. Retrieved from
The National is a middle Eastern Newspaper that serves locals in the UAE with the latest news. Hannah talks in this article about a French institute that is called Institute de Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) which was founded in 1987 to form a bridge between France and the Arab world. Their aim is to promote the Arabian culture and create a place where people share and exchange ideas and thoughts with others, this helps non-Arabs to learn and have a better understanding of the culture by communicating with its own people. This institute was the first to show contemporary art coming out of the Arab world. Institute de Monde Arabe succeeded and exceeded 1 million visitors a year through some concerts, exhibitions, and debates. One of the most popular exhibitions they held in their headquarter in Paris is Arab contemporary arts that exhibited 40 artists work that includes painting, sculpture, photography, and some other types of arts which portrayed the Arab culture beautifully.
3. Letters of light: Arabic Script in Calligraphy, Print, and Digital Design
Suit, N. (2018). Letters of light: Arabic Script in Calligraphy, Print, and Digital Design. Arab Studies Quarterly, 40(3), 258-261. Retrieved from
Making Technology Less Daunting is a written review by Natalia Suit of Letters of Light book whose author is Osborn. The review talks about Arabic calligraphy and how technology helped in the creation of digital typography. The author sees calligraphy more than just an art in which its more about its meaning. In fact, calligraphy includes many styles, fonts, and ways of presenting the work, and this plays a big role in how the message is delivered to the audience. Osborn believes that the printed text which is typography can attract not only a broader audience but also portrays modernity and development in many aspects. However, its not as easy as it looks, since Arabic writings is known for its unique fonts, so its visual form is very important which makes typography even harder and limited when it comes to Arabic scripts. So basically, Letters of Light book talks about the technological transformation of the traditional Arabic scripts from calligraphy to typography and digital design and its characteristics and unique structures that represents the Arabian culture, history and Islam.
4. Cultural Considerations: Arabic Calligraphy and Latin Typography
Blankenship, S. (2003). Cultural Considerations: Arabic Calligraphy and Latin Typography. Design Issues, 19(2), 60-63.
This article is written by Sherry Blankenship to show the difference between Arabic calligraphy and Latin typography for a better understanding of both and find a powerful form that represents them individually. She claims that typography is deeper than just aesthetics but about harmony and powerful structure that portray each language in which it represents its culture and identity. The complexity of Arabic calligraphy attracts peoples attention to its uniqueness. Arabic letters are characterized to be musical, rhythmic, decorative, fluid, and dynamic, and thats why it cant be compared to any other languages when it comes to its deepness and aesthetics. Arabic calligraphy focuses more on meanings and great beauty. However, Latin letters are characterized as formal, rigid, and mechanical which works very well with technology. Latin typography focuses more on expression in which it acts as images. Sherry claims that integrating both Arabic and Latin typography offers some innovative ways and new styles that can show each languages beauty in a unique way.
5. Towards A New Arabic Typography
Cole, G. (1998). Toward a new Arabic Typography. Print, 52(3), 112. Retrieved from
This article talks about Habib Khourys view who is an Arabic calligrapher and a typographer from Israel. Habib believes that Arabic typefaces are facing some serious problems in developing to a high-quality ones, in which designers are suffering from mechanism and digitalization. In fact, Arabic is much more complicated than Latin which makes it harder to achieve a very good Arabic typography and limit its typefaces. Due to the low quality typefaces, most Arabian media companies tend to have at least one calligrapher to relay on which considered to be a temporary solution. Khoury resolved the problem by producing a new printing alphabet.
6. Arabic Calligraphy: The Art of Literacy
Highet, J. (2002). Arabic Calligraphy: The Art of Literacy. Middle East, (325), 45. Retrieved from
7. The Tracing of Arabic Calligraphy
Hasanoglu, O. (2017). The Tracing of Arabic Calligraphy. International Journal of Arts & sciences, 10(1), 501-516. Retrieved from
