Wissam Shawkat, an Iraqi artist, has always aspired to contribute to Basra, his hometown. And now, the designer and international authority on calligraphy has reached a turning point that unites his art and background.
The Basra government approached Shawkat in July of last year and requested that he create a logo to symbolize the port city. According to The National, Shawkat was aware from the beginning that he wanted to produce a design that portrayed Basra’s legacy in a contemporary and positive way because it would be depicted in several sculptures throughout the city.
“I wanted the logo to show that Basra is a positive city now,” Shawkat told The National, “The colours in the logo represent the many; the mixture of all the people living in Basra from all religions and ethnicities. Basra has been known throughout history as a place where people from different backgrounds and ethnicities live.”
Al Basra, the city’s Arabic name, is positioned next to the word “Basra” in the logo. Both are presented in a unique font that Shawkat himself designed. It makes use of sharp, angular curves and lines that appear both fluid and light. At the meeting point between the Arabic and English words, Shawkat created an image that represents two aspects of Basra’s heritage — the palm tree and an architectural element called shanasheel.
Shawkat designed the palm tree’s trunk to resemble two different arches — as seen on shanasheels — as they protrude away from the palm tree towards each word. Shawkat’s color selection for the logo and sculpture is strong and well-executed, much like the utilization of line and shape. A stained glass window-like mosaic of vibrant colors appears in a symmetrical arrangement.
