Existing for more than two thousand years, the art of arabic calligraphy remains as vibrant and admired as ever. The artistic ornamentation of the written texts pushes the reader to go beyond just understanding the meaning of the words and to appreciate the beauty in the way the message is expressed. Originally a tool for communication, this artistic creation developed to include a variety of forms of human expression, which includes traditional, modern and abstract art pieces. This long history led to its recognition as a unique artistic and culture that reflects rich aspects of Arab and Islamic cultural identity. Dr. Nahla Emam, professor of Egyptian Folklore traditions and head of Habits, Beliefs and Traditional Knowledge Department at the High Institute of Folklore, was nominated by the Minister of Culture Inas Abdul Dayem as an expert representative of Egypt’s file to prepare the new joint Arab file “Arts of Arabic Calligraphy: Skills, Knowledge and Practices” as part of the initiative to register Arabic calligraphy as UNESCO intangible heritage. Last week, sixteen Arab countries, including Egypt, participated in a workshop and coordination meeting headed by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, where each…
Egypt Working to Register Arabic Calligraphy As UNESCO Intangible Heritage
February 9, 2020
