Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, inaugurated the “Allama Bil Qalam” Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition here Tuesday. The expo features more than 20 famous artists from Pakistan. “The calligraphic pieces displayed in the exhibition rank with the best works of art from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, other parts of the Middle East and Islamic world at large in terms of style and content,” said Prince Sultan Bin Salman. Pakistani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mohammad Naeem Khan accompanied the Prince and other Saudi officials while viewing the calligraphic works. “In Pakistan, there is a lot of interest in writing Qur'anic scripts in calligraphy and there are many talented people who are doing this,” the Ambassador told Saudi Gazette. “I thought that this is something which is common between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and that I should bring this here.” “The exhibition symbolizes the unity of culture and arts of Islamic countries. Islam is the religion that binds the people of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia together,” Khan said. “We share the same heritage, culture and faith,” he added. Nasser Al-Maimoun, a well-known Saudi calligrapher, was also present at the exhibition. “This is a very valuable initiative from the Pakistan Embassy in the service of this art, which is the vessel for the Noble Qur'an and Sunnah,” Al-Maimoun told Saudi Gazette. “We are honored to have the patronage of Prince Sultan Bin Salman in this exhibition.” “I am happy to be in Saudi Arabia, the origin of this art,” said Asma Tariq, a participating artist from Pakistan. She is exhibiting artwork that combines drawing and calligraphy. “I want to explore Arabic calligraphy even more because Saudis know more about it,” she added. Fahd Al-Zahrani, a member of the Saudi Association of Arabic Calligraphy, said in response to Asma Tariq that she may be in for a disappointment. “The aesthetic sense of Arabic calligraphy is diminishing here in Saudi Arabia,” Al-Zahrani said. “I am impressed by the effort and the initiative to organize such an event. In Arabic calligraphy, such as the wonderful artwork here, meanings can be read and seen.” “The response to the exhibition has been excellent,” the Pakistani Ambassador said. A day will be reserved for ladies. The embassy is also inviting students from universities and colleges to tour the exhibition, which will run till March 2. “The exhibition will be an annual feature. We will bring new artwork from Pakistan every year,” Khan said. __
