A Calligraphy Masterclass
Getting out from behind the computer always leads to good things.
One of our ongoing struggles is that it’s too easy to get stuck at the desk clicking keys and forget that there’s a whole world full of inspiration just waiting to be discovered. Maybe this encounter is proof that good things are in store for those who get offline.
As part of our project adventures we needed to meet a master calligrapher, and with a mix of shame (for not having known him before) and joy (for discovering he’s 20 minutes drive away) we turned up at Mohammed Mandi’s studio at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation.
As it turns out, sitting with Mohamed Mandi means sitting with the UAE’s most recognized calligrapher, a master artist whose work we had already seen on everything from UAE currency, the Abu Dhabi logo, the Emirati passport and countless other things. He’s an incredibly humble and generous individual, and the hour spent in his studio was worth more than days online.
Mohammed Mandi’s studio is a place of calligraphic mastery. He produces the kind of work that can only come from decades of experience and a deep passion for the process. No shortcuts, no workarounds, just decades devoted to the artwork and to constant growth.
In the eyes of calligraphy amateurs (which we definitely are), there’s this idea of a calligrapher just being a person with a nice pen and some good paper. In reality one of the most fascinating discoveries was how many varied ways he has of executing his craft. Over the years he’s built his own tools and developed his own techniques. He’s mastered ways of refracting light on his table at just the right angles for just the right sheen.
And then there’s the paper - so many different types from every imaginable corner of the world, all treated with special techniques and each with its own way of being used and contributing to the final work.
If you’re in or around Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Mandi runs a range of different calligraphy classes and workshops out of his studio.
You can find all the information here: Bait Al Khatt
