From the Mosques, to the Streets: The Evolution of Egyptian Calligraphy

From casual scribbles, to elaborate murals, Egypt is awash with Arabic calligraphy, be it on mosques, homes, cars or even tuk-tuks. With fascinating new book, 'Khatt', co-authors Basma Hamdy and Noha Zayed, travelled the span of Egypt's cities and villages for three years to put together a stunning visual documentation of a classical style of typography that has not only endured the test of time, but has also taken on new forms and meanings.

“Calligraphy is a form of art born in Egypt, and the heart of Egypt is Downtown Cairo,” Hamdy says of the book’s fitting launch at Downtown’s Kodak Passageway, where a sprawling exhibition of some of the book’s most dazzling images were curated to provide unique insight into a timeless art.