Our Exhibition Spotlight this week is SALAM at Tashkeel, and with the show running until 13 April, there is still time to catch it.
Curated by Ibrahim Zaki, the exhibition brings together a diverse group of artists reimagining Arabic letters through contemporary calligraphy and typography. The artists reinterpret the visual language of Arabic letters to express themes of peace, spirituality, and contemplation.
Participating artists include Sami ElDabae, Ehab ElHamzawy, Abdelrahman Shaheen, Toka Assal, Ahmad Mansour, Wael Morcos, Mahmoud Abdelghany, Ahmad Mattar, Waleed Abo Douh, Mardy Elzaawely, Ahmad Zahra, Wissam Shawkat, Mohamed Abdelaziz, Ali Aziz, Muharram Hassan, Anas Alaa, Salma Hesham, Basheer Asalieh and Ibrahim Zaki.
Among the highlights is Wael Morcos, the Beirut-born, Brooklyn-based designer whose work examines the cultural and political narratives embedded within typography.
Translating centuries of Arabic calligraphic tradition into contemporary digital formats, Morcos bridges design, identity and storytelling through his practice and his studio, Morcos Key.
Ali Aziz Anwar Hassanein is an Art Director and contemporary Arabic calligrapher working with the Ajman Government Media Office in the United Arab Emirates informs a distinctive visual language that merges institutional design with artistic exploration.
Rooted in both heritage and modern systems, his work positions Arabic calligraphy as a living, evolving form of communication and cultural expression. Through his work, Ali has contributed to the development of major governmental visual identities and cultural initiatives in the Emirate of Ajman, shaping public visual narratives through strategic design and typography.
Representing a younger generation, Abdelrahman Shaheen brings an experimental approach to typography. Currently studying at the College of Applied Arts, the Egyptian designer works across logo design, digital media and visual composition, using letterforms as tools for storytelling while exploring new directions in Arabic graphic design.
Together with a wider group of artists including Wissam Shawkat and Ahmad Mattar, SALAM presents a range of approaches that move from abstraction to refined typographic composition.
Set within Tashkeel’s Nad Al Sheba 1 gallery, the space encourages a slower, more contemplative viewing experience. Minimal and light-filled, it allows each work to stand on its own while drawing visitors into the rhythm and movement of the letterforms. Just next door, the experience continues beyond the gallery.
Treat yourself after the exhibition with a visit to Gerbou, just next door, where the SALAM experience continues in dessert form. Priced at AED 75, the Salam Cake combines a French almond sponge with cardamom-infused date paste, a crunchy baklava layer, and a pistachio and yoghurt cream subtly flavoured with saffron, offering a contemporary take on regional flavours.
SALAM runs until 13 April 2026 at Tashkeel Nad Al Sheba
Visit: tashkeel.org
Hayley is passionate about everything 90s, from art and fashion to music. Her love for glossy, artful coffee table books started early during her days in book publishing and has only grown since. She collects luxury magazines from around the world, enjoys exploring creative workshops around the city, and always chases dinners with a view, preferably by the beach.
