Sharjah Calligraphy Museum hosts exhibition by Italian artist Bibi Trabucchi

The Sharjah Calligraphy Museum is hosting an art exhibition by renowned Italian artist and calligrapher Bibi Trabucchi, titled ‘Qalam for Peace: A bridge of art from Rome to Sharjah’.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Owais, Head of the Department of Culture and Information in Sharjah and Hisham Al Madloum head of Art Directorate at the Department of Culture and Information, accompanied by Aisha Deemas, Director of Executive Affairs at SMD, and Buthaina Al Rasasi, Curator of the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, in addition to a large number of VIPs, artists and media representatives.

On display between 19 September and 17 November 2012, the exhibition comprises a total of 8 sections bearing various appellations, such as white, black, gold and the sky, with each section featuring approximately 4 - 13 paintings, separated for using different varieties of materials and tools.

Inspired by Chinese and Arabic calligraphy, Trabucchi is charmed by these artistic languages and their development into abstract expressions, shapes and archaic writings. Her work is focused on the universal language of emotions, depicted with strong shapes and vibrant colors in her paintings, visual designs and sculptures.

The exhibition also showcases a collection of Trabucchi’s personal photographs showing her immersed in making masterpieces. The pictures depict the various stages of her finished and unfinished works using tarpaulin paper.

On the occasion, Aisha Deemas, Director of Executive Affairs at SMD, said, “The Sharjah Museums Department is always keen to host exhibitions that present to our visitors the spirit of intercultural relations between the Arab/Islamic region and the rest of the world. Arabic calligraphy in particular is a great example of how art inspired and influenced such relations positively. Through this exhibition, SMD aims to enhance community educational programmes dedicated to promoting the importance of the art of Arabic calligraphy amongst community members and confirming the value of Arabic as it is the language of the Holy Quran.”

Trabucchi has organised many exhibitions across the world. Experts and critics consider her work as homage to the ‘Sign Civilizations’ - cultures which give calligraphy a place of honour.

The awareness that the dialogue between East and West can be established through a mere sign or symbol is the testimony to the depth of her works.

To Trabucchi, it is not important to understand the written word, but to communicate a feeling, and speak in a universal language communicated by emotions, shapes and strong colors.

Trabucchi’s works are characterised by strong aesthetic values, which stem from the abandonment of rigid schemes imposed by any particular form or kind of calligraphy.

Bibi Trabucchi lives and works in Rome where she founded “Alif”, a Cultural Association for the Study of Islamic Arts, including calligraphy. Since 1999 she has devoted herself mainly to her favorite art: calligraphy. Both Arab and Chinese calligraphy are her favorite subjects as she decomposes and recomposes them in a white space to recreate contrasts of shapes and colors.

She believes that the knowledge of cultures and artistic expressions helps to understand and love distant worlds, which she thinks is most important in order to establish a dialogue of peace on the road to intellectual enrichment.

View News Headlines