Writing or calligraphy? The Arabic alphabet sublimated: the Institut du Monde Arabe exhibition

Centuries of practice, evolutions, artists from different countries and regional styles: writing the Arabic language is an art in its own right. TheInstitut du Monde Arabe is spotlighting this very special art of calligraphy in a brand-new exhibition running from February 5 to September 21, 2025.

With Ecrire ou calligraphier? L'alphabet arabe sublimé, the IMA takes us on a journey through centuries and lands. Thanks to its rich collections, the art center is able to showcase Arabic script, from the earliest pages of the Koran to street art and contemporary art.

This exhibition invites us to discover the "art of the beautifully written", or khatt, a term that means both writing and calligraphy. In this discipline, the meaning of the words traced is as important as the care and beauty of the lines that form them. This artistic handwriting consolidates or gives new strength to the written word. This art form is used not only in religious and spiritual fields, but also in design andarchitecture, photography, fashion and even everyday life.

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From the 9th century to the present day, Arabic calligraphy has been the subject of numerous practices and standards. This art has grown and evolved over the centuries. The exhibition even shows the artistic movements that were born of this script. This is how we discover hurufiyya, a movement that emerged in the 1960s to create a pan-Arab visual language through the drawing of letters.

The Institut du Monde Arabe unveils works by the celebrated Egyptian-Lebanese artist Marie Khouri. This contemporary sculptor is interested in the links between language, the human body and form. Seeking to build bridges between identity, memory and dialogue, she has created the installation I Love: white, curvilinear sculptures that bring words to life in three dimensions.

An original, poetic theme for an original exhibition, to be discovered at the Institut du Monde Arabe in 2025.