Calligraffiti workshop led by Saudi artist Mawadah Muhtasib

Wednesday, September 20, 2017
7:30 p.m.
Harbor Square (Saadeddin)
Free with registration – limited seats, reserve your free ticket today
Drop-in, hang out, make art!

ARTmosphere is pleased to present a calligraffiti workshop led by Saudi artist, Mawadah Muhtasib, Wednesday September 20, at 7:30 p.m.

What is Calligraffiti?

Calligraffiti is a result of two visual art forms – calligraphy and graffiti. While calligraphy lays emphasis on the aesthetics of the written form, graffiti is all about making an assertive statement in the landscape of the urban world. Thus, in simple terms, calligraffiti is traditional handwriting with a modern attitude.

The workshop includes:

• brief introduction on origin, history and application of the art of calligraphy
• forms of calligraphy
• learning about the proper tools
• techniques of the different types of calligraffiti
• examples of well-known international calligraffiti writers
• practice on printed templates
• a practice session, where the participants will be guided in writing their own names or words of choice in calligraffiti style.

Register: solkem.ngangbet@kaust.edu.sa

About Mawadah Muhtasib:

Born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Mawadah Muhtasib currently studies Motion Graphic Design at Dar Al Hekma University. From an early age Muhtasib has been exploring a variety of medium, including film, illustration, graffiti and painting in order to find her language of expression through art. In 2013 she created her own calligraffiti typeface, which is a combination of calligraffiti painting and mirrored Arabic characters that focuses on the beauty of the strokes and lines of the Arabic language and form. The typeface is designed to demonstrate the Arabic calligraphy as a unique distinctive form, not necessarily readable yet visually engaging. In her process, Muhtasib aims to push the boundaries of perception and artistic expression.

Her work is part of the collection of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture and she collaborated with The Office of H.H. The Crown Prince of Dubai for the creation of the longest graffiti scroll, which achieved the Guinness World records in 2014.

Muhtasib’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally including in Kuala Lumpur and New York. Recently, she was amongst a handful of artists selected by the Saudi government to showcase their artworks in a contemporary art exhibition produced for Donald Trump and his wife, during their official state visit.

Art takes over KAUST!

You can watch Mawadah painting live in the Harbor area (Site 2 gate, at the junction of buildings H-4300A-H4304A-H4306B) this week. She will be there from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday September 13 and from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday September 14. Come say hi and witness a life-size calligraffiti work in progress!

About ARTmosphere

ARTmosphere is the art wing of the Harbor buildings upgrade project. ARTmosphere is dedicated to presenting the best and most exciting contemporary art through dynamic exhibitions, events, artist talks, workshops and more. Through the repurposing of a construction fence, ARTmosphere challenges artists to creatively engage with a unique exhibition space and to explore how their work transforms and interacts with the surroundings.

ARTmosphere – walk on the art side!