The Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome hosted a distinguished cultural event dedicated to Arabic calligraphy, celebrating World Arabic Language Day under the supervision of Ambassador Bassam Radi, Egypt’s Ambassador to Italy and Permanent Representative to the UN Agencies in Rome, and the Academy’s Director, Dr Rania Yahya.
The evening featured a captivating exhibition of calligraphic masterpieces by renowned Iraqi artist Ahmed al-Rifai.
The exhibition showcased the rich diversity of Arabic script, presenting artworks in various styles—including Kufic, Diwani, Thuluth, Ruq’ah, Naskh, and Farsi—across different sizes and thematic scopes.
The displayed works encompassed a range of subjects, from artistic compositions and religious texts to prophetic sayings, proverbs, wisdom, sermons, and Quranic verses.
The event concluded with a tribute to the artist, who also delivered a comprehensive lecture on the history and evolution of Arabic calligraphy styles throughout the ages.
Ambassador Radi delivered a key address, underscoring the historical significance and profound importance of Arabic calligraphy.
He expressed immense pride in it as an intrinsic element of Arab and Islamic civilisation, noting that it masterfully integrates refined artistic components: the ingenuity of the Arabic script, the deep resonance of the words, and the exquisite precision of the artistic execution.
Rania Yahya also extended a warm welcome to the substantial Italian audience. The attendees included high-profile figures such as the Vice President of the Italian Senate, several Italian officials, members of the diplomatic corps, Arab ambassadors, and esteemed cultural, artistic, and academic experts.
The celebration of Arabic calligraphy is timely, coinciding with the global observance of World Arabic Language Day, which is annually marked on December 18th.
This date commemorates the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution 3190 in 1973, officially designating Arabic as one of the United Nations’ official and working languages.
