Friday March 29th, 2024
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From the Mosques, to the Streets: The Evolution of Egyptian Calligraphy

New book, 'Khatt', charts the rise of calligraphy used as street art across Egypt.

Staff Writer

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.

To get your hands on a copy, head to khattegypt.com or email info@khattegypt.com.

Video by MO4 Network