Calligraphy has always been a cornerstone of Arab culture, yet until recently, finding a dedicated local platform to learn this art form was a challenge. This changed with the launch of Khawla Art and Culture in 2019, a foundation in Abu Dhabi with grand ambitions.
Five years later, Khawla Art and Culture’s mission to promote classic Arab art free of charge and to provide it with international exposure is gaining significant momentum. The foundation’s latest exhibition, “Color Their Dreams,” exemplifies this progress. Opened on Wednesday and running until June 14, the exhibition features 120 works from seven countries, including creations by orphaned children from Egypt, India, Iraq, Togo, and refugee children from Jordan.
“We’re exhibiting 120 different works from seven countries,” says general manager Rayan Hakki. “Some of them are on canvas, some on paper. It’s a way to help and motivate them to keep working and doing art.”
Before Khawla Art and Culture’s establishment, those interested in Arabic calligraphy had few options for in-depth study. Introductory courses were available, but more nuanced and comprehensive learning opportunities were scarce. Recognizing this gap, Her Highness Sheikha Khawla bint Ahmed Khalifa Al-Suwaidi, an accomplished calligrapher and the wife of Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed, National Security Adviser and Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, decided to create a foundation dedicated to this cause.
Sheikha Khawla has spent years perfecting her craft, learning from esteemed practitioners worldwide. Her foundation, located on Abu Dhabi’s Dalma Street, includes exhibition and workshop spaces, a library, and a museum highlighting the history of Arabic calligraphy. A special section of the museum is dedicated to Sheikha Khawla’s works, showcasing her proficiency across various calligraphic styles.
“It was an idea that Sheikha Khawla had when she started learning about Arabic calligraphy and art, realizing that it wasn’t very well highlighted or promoted in our region,” explains Hakki.
While Arabic calligraphy was the foundation’s primary focus at its inception, Khawla Art and Culture has expanded to include other classical Arabic art forms, such as ornamentation, literature, grammar, music, paper making, and sculpting. This growth is part of a broader mission to enhance and promote Arabic art.
The institution’s timing initially seemed inopportune, coinciding with the global Covid-19 pandemic. Lockdowns and isolation measures complicated the scheduling of consistent classes. However, the foundation quickly adapted, offering online courses that made learning calligraphy more accessible than ever.
Instructors are carefully selected, including prominent figures like Mohammed Mandi, who taught Sheikha Khawla herself. Mandi, whose work adorns UAE passports and banknotes, provides online entry-level classes in geometric square kufi and ruqaa scripts. His involvement helped Khawla Art and Culture make significant strides from the outset.
The academy offers courses in various calligraphy styles, including Naskh, Ruqaa, Thuluth, Diwani, and Geometrical and Mamluk Kufi scripts. It has also introduced classes in resin art, horse drawing, letter fragmentation, and Japanese calligraphy, highlighting diverse approaches to the art form. Courses are often curated according to student interests, with community engagement playing a pivotal role in shaping the curriculum.
Khawla Art and Culture’s mission extends beyond the UAE. The institution participates in workshops, exhibitions, and lectures across the Arab world and internationally, including in Lebanon, Egypt, Spain, Italy, and Japan. Hakki is enthusiastic about driving forward this international exposure, aiming to see their artists recognized globally.
“I want to see our artists in museums abroad,” Hakki says. “To see our artists getting recognized worldwide, being part of art fairs and in collectors’ houses. We want them to share their stories because the story behind an artwork is the artist’s story. It’s the region’s story, and it should be heard everywhere.”
The “Color Their Dreams” exhibition at Khawla Art and Culture in Abu Dhabi runs daily from 10 am to 7 pm until June 14.
