The Iraqi calligrapher Taha Al-Hiti is preparing an exhibition which opens on Thursday Feb. 26 in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of Edward Oakden, the British Ambassador to the UAE. Al-Hiti recently had a successful exhibition in Vienna which closed on Feb. 8. The exhibition in Abu Dhabi at the Arjun Gallery is his eighth. The theme will be classic calligraphy with a local influence focusing on horses.
Al-Hiti, 37, has been in the field of Arabic calligraphy since the age of six. What is special about his work is that he mixes classical with modern. “Good calligraphy is art that not only looks good to the eye, but conveys a strong message. It depends largely on the power of words. The message is just as important as what you see and what is left in your head after you’ve seen it,” he said.
Al-Hiti, began studying Arabic calligraphy at the age of 12 in books of the late master of calligraphy, Hashim Al-Baghdady. At the age of 15, he was recognized as the formal calligrapher of Baghdad College when he was a student there. He held his first private calligraphy exhibition in Baghdad when he was 18. The exhibition was widely publicized and was visited by key officials. Al-Hiti was praised by his teacher Abbas Al-Baghdadi, who called the young man “The Ambassador of Calligraphy.”
Arabic calligraphy and Islamic art were always a part of Al-Hiti’s academic studies; he specialized in Islamic architecture and planning at the University of Baghdad and also at Vienna Technical University.
Tina Touqmatchi, who does the illumination for Al-Hiti’s calligraphy, said that what was special about his work was that he mixed the old classical school of calligraphy and modern life. “He expands into poetry and philosophical sayings which are different from the old school that focused on the Islamic aspect of calligraphy — writing Qur’anic verses,” she said.
Bright colors are used in illuminating the works in order to make them look as modern and contemporary as possible.
In addition to calligraphy, Al-Hiti also designs jewelry. About three years ago, he established Yaqut Designs based in London. He employs artists from Jordan, Morocco, Turkey, Iran and London. “Yaqut” is the name of one of the masters of calligraphy who lived in Baghdad during Abbasid times some 900 years ago. Every piece of jewelry is made to order for a customer; each piece is made with 24 ct gold and, in some of the modern pieces, embellished with Swarovski crystals to add a sparkle to them. The selection of colors and materials are largely dependent on the taste and specifications of customers. “I tend to do a signature piece for every customer which might be their names or logos turned into a piece of jewelry,” he said.
The West is interested in Arabic calligraphy and Al-Hiti has been asked by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London to give lectures about calligraphy and to teach it. “European interest in Arabic calligraphy is very high. Although they cannot read the words, they enjoy looking at it and understand its value. A lot of Arabic speakers are put off by the fact that they cannot read the words easily; however, they seem to have an interest in the aesthetic value,” he said.
Al-Hiti’s favorite calligraphy is Thuluth — one-third of each letter slopes, from which the name (meaning "a third" in Arabic) comes. Although typing has taken over handwriting in many ways, handwritten letters create a personal bond between the sender and the recipient. For Al-Hiti, handwriting is as important for communication as being able to speak. “If your hand writing is unclear, you lack a strong way of expressing yourself.”
