As part of The Saudi Cultural Space, the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy, presents the exhibition Lines that Unite: Arabic Calligraphy in Space, curated by Nuria Garcia.
The exhibition traces the evolution of Arabic calligraphy from the rock inscriptions of the 5th and 6th centuries CE to its development as an integral element of architecture, where text becomes part of sacred and civic spaces. The Arabic term khaṭṭ (خط), meaning “line,” encapsulates the essence of this art form: the strokes that shape the letters become bridges between cultures, connecting the material and the spiritual.
On display are works that reinterpret tradition through contemporary expressions: some trace the locations where, according to tradition, the Qur’anic verses were revealed; others transform Arabic letters into geometric codes based on numerical values or the Vedic square; still others reflect the formal harmony of classical calligraphy or explore the relationship between writing and the human body.
The program also includes public workshops (13, 14, and 23 November) introducing participants to the art and aesthetics of Arabic calligraphy, and the panel “Calligraphy Beyond Words and Stories” (22 November), a conversation between Saudi and Italian experts moderated by Lubna Alkhamis, exploring the continuing relevance and universal resonance of this ancient art.
