Kuwait · Fine-Art-Adjacent Workshop Craft
Khatt (Arabic calligraphy); named script styles including Kufic, Thuluth, Naskh, Ijaza, Ruqa'ah, Diwani, Jali Diwani, and Taghraa'
The practice of Arabic calligraphy (khatt) in Kuwait, a revered art form directly showcasing the beauty of Arabic script and highly skilled in creating intricate designs that adorn mosques, government buildings, and public spaces. Kuwaiti calligrapher Al-Ameer, directly interviewed by Kuwait Times, detailed the rich historical development of the craft's many distinct script styles, each carrying specific traits and historical roles: Kufic, the oldest form, known for its geometric lines; Thuluth, intricate and highly esteemed, often seen in mosque decorations and Quranic texts; Naskh, favored for its clarity and readability, making it ideal for manuscript transcription; and Ijaza, a 'signature' script blending Naskh and Thuluth, historically used in official correspondence. Al-Ameer specifically explained that 'the Turks invented new scripts such as Ruqa'ah, Diwani, Jali Diwani and Taghraa',' while 'the Persians, influenced by earlier Islamic scripts, developed Ta'leeq, the Persian script, and Shakasteh, a broken, fluid line' -- Persian styles earning the title 'bride of scripts' for their highly ornamental character, typically reserved for poetry. Arabic calligraphy follows highly precise rules and proportions; practitioners use essential tools that have remained largely unchanged throughout history, including the reed pen (qalam), a selection of knives for cutting the reed or bamboo nib, and various inks traditionally made from soot dissolved in water and Arabic gum. In Kuwait specifically, highly skilled calligraphers apply the craft across mosques, government buildings, and public spaces, with the country's contemporary art scene continuing to showcase Diwani, Naskh, and Thuluth as among the most prominent practiced styles.
Risk level: Vulnerable · Not independently inscribed
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