Al Saidia School Organizes a Course on Aesthetics of Arabic Calligraphy in
Cooperation with Omani Society for Fine Arts.
Al-Saidia Primary School (5-12) represented by the family of Arabic language, fine arts group and the family of vocational guidance has held a practical course concerning aesthetics of Arabic calligraphy in cooperation with Omani Society for Fine Arts with participation of a group of boys and girls students of Muscat schools. This event was executed in the same day of the celebration of the International Day for the Arabic language which is on eighteenth of December of each year.
The Program was started with recitation of verses from the Quran which are recited by the student Mohammed Bin Mussa E- Baloshy. Then, the School Principal Soliman El-Gabry greeted the attendees praising their participation and thanking them for their efforts which are done to make the course successful indicating in his speech the reason for which Al-Saidia School held the event. He confirmed that the School always celebrates the events that contribute to increase the belonging of the student towards his nation and promote his love towards his religion, nation and country. The Arabic language is considered as an important component which all persons should care about. The celebration of this day comes concurrently with the day in which the United Nations admitted that the Arabic Language is an official language used in the international authority.
Importance of Arabic calligraphy
Mr. Abdullah Ek-Waely, the Assistant Director of Omani Society for Fine Arts talked about the importance of holding this event presenting an overview on history of Al Saidia School as being the first school in the Sultanate and its role in enriching the education wishing that the school will continue in providing its message creatively. He also talked about the calligraphy in general and the Arabic calligraphy in particular alluding to presence of international and Arab competitions that show the calligraphy and its aesthetics. He confirmed that the purpose is to make the Sultanate taking part in these competitions and to be distinctive in them. He reviewed the basics known in writing the Arabic calligraphy clarifying that there is a strong connection between Arabic calligraphy, Arabic Language and Islamic religion mentioning in his speech to some other countries that are distinctive in the acclaimed movement related to interest in Arabic calligraphy. He gave Turkey as an example which was the center of the Islamic civilization. Then, he displayed on the visual display screen the most important tools in writing the Arabic calligraphy and the most famous schools known for teaching Arabic calligraphy and its aesthetics. In conclusion of his speech, he mentioned that paintings beside its aesthetic importance represent a source of livelihood for calligraphers calling the students for taking the initiative and participating in the annual completion launched annually by Fine Arts Society concerning the Arabic Calligraphy.
Sparkling Experience
Then, Mr. Sulatn El-Rashidy presented his experience in Arabic calligraphy, he started his speech talking about the importance of preservation of Arabic calligraphy and the extent to which it relates to preservation of the nation, its components and heritage especially with the technology which is developed and promoted rapidly. He mentioned that his love for the Arabic calligraphy started since he was seven years old and although there was no person who helped or encouraged him to continue in this field, his love for the Arabic calligraphy made him read the books related to this aspect till he knew the basics that help him till he reached the current conclusion of delivering several workshops and sessions to faculty and school students, writing in books, sites and designing companies along with participating in establishment of a group called the promising Arabic calligraphy group. Then, he displayed some video clips on how to write Arabic. He concluded his speech by saying that his target is to make Oman a refuge for Arabic calligraphy learning seekers and to make this nation a communication bridge for teaching this noble art.
Practical Experience and a Documentary Film
He displayed a practical visual experience concerning how to cut pen which is used in writing and the parts from which it composes where he explained that the pen is composed of back, interior and cavity. He displayed a documentary film on one of the famous calligraphers in the twentieth century, he is Turkish and his name is Hamed El-Amady who was writing till he reached 90 years old. Mr. Sulatn also clarified the most important works done by the said person and their impact on the development of the Arabic calligraphy.
Khuwair School got the First Position
After the theoretical presentations and shows, a competition was launched between the participating students in the course. The competition was to copy a painting distributed into the students of each school in order to enable the students to apply practically what they had learnt from the basics of writing as well as encourage them on the correct writing and to create a competition spirit between them so as to increase their peerless desire. After the students had written the painting, it was estimated by the committee and the results were declared where the Khuwair Primary School got the First Position, Rahid Bin El-Nazr got the second position and Sifah School for Girls got the third position. In the conclusion, all the schools that participated in the course were honored and the honorary gifts were distributed into them.