Saudi visual artist turns passion for Arabic calligraphy into icons of beauty

Saudi visual artist turns passion for Arabic calligraphy into icons of beauty
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There were many visual artists in the iconic village and Al-Mutlaq participated in several exhibitions held there in the summer for three years. (Supplied)
Saudi visual artist turns passion for Arabic calligraphy into icons of beauty
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(Supplied)
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Updated 23 December 2022

Saudi visual artist turns passion for Arabic calligraphy into icons of beauty

Saudi visual artist turns passion for Arabic calligraphy into icons of beauty

MAKKAH: Khaled Mohammed Al-Mutlaq has turned his passion into art in the governorate of Hafr Al-Batin in northeastern Saudi Arabia.

As a child Al-Mutlaq was interested in art and calligraphy, including drawings and fonts.

Al-Mutlaq said: “My parents were the first to encourage me to do that. My passion continued until I joined secondary school in Al-Muftaha Village in the city of Abha. The village was founded for culture, art and heritage, and from there was the actual beginning of developing the hobby through learning more about art schools there and attending workshops.” 

There were many visual artists in the iconic village and Al-Mutlaq participated in several exhibitions held there in the summer for three years. 

“After that, the artistic experiments and participation continued. I did not lose sight of my passion for Arabic calligraphy, devoting daily efforts and long hours until I obtained a license in Arabic calligraphy, in its six types, from Arabic calligraphy professor Abbas Al-Baghdadi,” Al-Mutlaq said. 

“I started my project of integrating the aesthetics, meaning and form of calligraphy with artworks,” Al-Mutlaq said. 

“Arabic calligraphy is characterized by a very high cultural and heritage value and an Arabic depth in which the Holy Quran was revealed. The Arabic calligraphy is distinguished from all other writings by the presence of the long vowel, dots and short sound symbols that made the alphabet an art that moves even when it is static,” he said. 

He has participated in many international and local exhibitions, including “Between Civilization and Contemporary” in Al-Muftaha Village in 2000. In 2005 he participated in the Arabic calligraphy exhibition at the King Abdulaziz Public Library, and the “Lamsat Wafaa” (“A Touch of Loyalty”) exhibition in Asir Region in 2017. Most recently, he was part of the miniatures exhibition in Riyadh in 2022. 

Al-Mutlaq won first place in the International Falcons Club competition in visual art; he has also held several internal artistic workshops. 

He said that the difference between calligraphic painting and visual painting in Arabic calligraphy is that the traditional calligrapher relies on the imitation of letters according to established rules. “So the calligrapher works on the calligraphy painting and its letters in the most complete manner that enables the artist to adjust the rule for letters, their dimensions and their golden proportions of mass, space and balance distribution. This adjustment is preceded by templates, experiences and possibilities because letters have many forms, and the artist needs to use the appropriate ones to complete the work.”

Al-Mutlaq said that the visual calligraphy paintings differ, as color and mass are part of the work. There is also some freedom and space in interconnection, composition and repetition. “Thus, I use Arabic calligraphy with a focus on the details of the aesthetics of the Arabic letter in the visual paintings. As for art collectors, these works are more desirable than classic works. They are also more desirable for connoisseurs.”

He is currently working on his first solo exhibition.


US ‘committed to partners in Gulf,’ secretary of state tells Arab ministers

US ‘committed to partners in Gulf,’ secretary of state tells Arab ministers
Updated 13 sec ago

US ‘committed to partners in Gulf,’ secretary of state tells Arab ministers

US ‘committed to partners in Gulf,’ secretary of state tells Arab ministers
  • GCC diplomats meet in Riyadh
  • Blinken in talks with Saudi crown prince

RIYADH: The US remains committed to its Gulf Arab partners, at a time of rapidly shifting regional alliances, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Gulf diplomats in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
Blinken spoke at a GCC ministerial meeting in Riyadh after talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
“The United States is in this region to say we remain deeply invested in partnering with all of you,” Blinken said at the opening of the US-GCC ministerial meeting on strategic partnership.
“The GCC is the core of our vision for a Middle East that is more stable, more secure, more prosperous.”

Key regional issues were on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting, including conflicts in Yemen, Sudan, Syria and the Palestinian territories. “Together, we are working to achieve a ... resolution to the conflict in Yemen,”and to “continue to counter Iran’s destabilizing behavior,” including seizures of tankers in international waters, Blinken told the GCC ministers.
“We are determined to find a political solution in Syria that maintains its unity and sovereignty and meets the aspirations of its people,” he added.
Shortly before the meeting, Blinken held private talks with Prince Faisal. The two “resolved to continue to work together to counter terrorism, to support efforts to bring about a lasting peace in Yemen, and to promote stability, security, de-escalation, and integration in the region,” the US State Department said. “They pledged to continue their strong cooperation to end the fighting in Sudan.”
Earlier, after his arrival in Jeddah on Tuesday at the start of a three-day visit, Blinken met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Their meeting, which lasted about 100 minutes, touched on topics including Saudi Arabia’s support for US evacuations from Sudan, and the need for political dialogue in Yemen.
The two men discussed “our shared priorities, including countering terrorism through the Global Coalition against Daesh, achieving peace in Yemen, and deepening economic and scientific cooperation,” Blinken said.


Saudi Justice Minister elected head of pan-Arab body

Saudi Justice Minister elected head of pan-Arab body
Updated 4 min 8 sec ago

Saudi Justice Minister elected head of pan-Arab body

Saudi Justice Minister elected head of pan-Arab body
  • Al-Samaani and Tabbi will serve in their roles for two years

RIYADH: Saudi Justice Minister Waleed Al-Samaani has been elected head of the executive office of the Council of Arab Justice Ministers, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

Abdul Rashid Tabbi of Algeria was elected deputy head. Both will serve in their roles for two years.

The announcement came on Wednesday during the 71st session of the executive office, held at the Arab League’s headquarters in Cairo.


Saudi, Bahraini royal guards wrap up joint security exercise 

Saudi, Bahraini royal guards wrap up joint security exercise 
Updated 30 min 8 sec ago

Saudi, Bahraini royal guards wrap up joint security exercise 

Saudi, Bahraini royal guards wrap up joint security exercise 
  • Exercise in Riyadh ran for two weeks under the supervision of qualified military training officers

RIYADH: The Saudi Royal Guard and the Royal Guard of Bahrain have concluded their first joint security exercise, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. 

The exercise in Riyadh ran for two weeks under the supervision of qualified military training officers. It aimed to strengthen collaboration, exchange military and security expertise and enhance the efficiency of security services, weapons handling and special operations.

The closing ceremony was attended by officers including Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Omari, chief of the operations department and general supervisor of the joint exercise, Maj. Gen. Hamad Al-Nuaimi, deputy commander of the Royal Guard of Bahrain. 


Turkish pilgrims land in Jeddah under Makkah Route initiative

Turkish pilgrims land in Jeddah under Makkah Route initiative
Updated 07 June 2023

Turkish pilgrims land in Jeddah under Makkah Route initiative

Turkish pilgrims land in Jeddah under Makkah Route initiative
  • Initiative allows pilgrims to pass seamlessly through immigration facilities in their respective countries

RIYADH: A group of Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye arrived in Jeddah from Istanbul on Wednesday as part of the Makkah Route initiative, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The initiative, launched by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior in 2019, allows pilgrims to pass seamlessly through immigration facilities at airports in their respective countries.

It enables Hajj visitors from seven countries to fulfill all the visa, customs and health requirements at their airports of origin, saving them long hours of waiting before and on arrival in Saudi Arabia.


Fight against Daesh must continue: Czech deputy foreign minister

The Czech Republic’s deputy foreign minister, Jan Marian. (Czech Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
The Czech Republic’s deputy foreign minister, Jan Marian. (Czech Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Updated 07 June 2023

Fight against Daesh must continue: Czech deputy foreign minister

The Czech Republic’s deputy foreign minister, Jan Marian. (Czech Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
  • Saudi Arabia is set to host global leaders and delegates on Thursday, June 8 for the meeting at the Intercontinental Hotel in Riyadh
  • “We sincerely appreciate that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS ministerial meeting,” Marian said

RIYADH: The Czech Republic’s deputy foreign minister, Jan Marian, extended his gratitude to the Kingdom for its efforts in hosting the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh’s ministerial meeting, and stressed the importance of continuing the fight against the group.

“Daesh’s territorial defeat has not ended its kinetic threat. Our fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria, as well as in Africa, Afghanistan, and Central Asia must continue,” Marian told Arab News.

Saudi Arabia is set to host global leaders and delegates on Thursday, June 8 for the meeting at the Intercontinental Hotel in Riyadh.

“We sincerely appreciate that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ISIS ministerial meeting,” Marian said.

The deputy foreign minister stressed that the Czech Republic remains firmly committed to the coalition’s mission.

“Alongside our involvement in international military missions, our activities focus on the prevention of radicalization and improvement of the socio-economic conditions in terrorism-affected areas,” Marian stressed.

“One of the Czech instruments for humanitarian aid and reconstruction activities in the MENA region is The Reconstruction program for the Middle East region.”

The deputy foreign minister explained that in 2023, Prague is planning to allocate 134 million Czech crowns ($6.1 million) for stabilization aid to Iraq, Syria, and the broader Middle East region.

He explained that of that, almost crowns would be aid to Syria.

“The primary focus of our aid continues to be on supporting medical and sanitation services and education,” Marian said.

Speaking on the changes he has witnessed in the Kingdom, Marian added: “In Saudi Arabia, we are witnessing a unique and revolutionary attempt to rebuild the country, its economy, and the society.

“The positive effect of the ongoing Saudi reforms is very visible and appreciated in the international arena.

“Riyadh has, more than ever, become a stabilizing regional pillar and an important partner.”

The deputy foreign minister described the Kingdom’s agreement with Iran as “a clear demonstration of political maturity and sense of responsibility for the Middle East developments.”

Saudi Arabia and Iran spent four days in talks between March 6 and March 10. The dialogue resulted in an agreement to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies in the two countries.

The deputy foreign minister also highlighted the bilateral ties between the Kingdom and the Czech Republic.

He said that the visit from the Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky in May 2023 only reaffirmed the Czech Republic’s interest in “deepening ties with the Kingdom.”

Marian emphasized that he hopes that he can host his Saudi counterparts in Prague in the near future.

“We are keen to discuss regional developments, instruments for ensuring sustainable energy security, and new opportunities for trade and economic cooperation,” he said.

“The Kingdom’s reform framework Vision 2030 in this respect represents a huge opportunity for Czech companies who can offer expertise and transfer of technologies.”