'The Holy Quran Pursuit' Exhibit at Texas Tech University
Aridi, who works with Arabic calligraphy, Islamic ornamentation and Arabesque design, began to study calligraphy at just 15 years old, he said in his presentation.
“(It took me) three years to just do the design, and seven years for all of the letters,” Aridi said.
Aridi went on to work in graphic design for software companies and other businesses dealing with advertisements, banners, backgrounds and more.
Still, Aridi maintained a passion for the Quran pages made by old masters, an interest that drove and created the journey of the making of a modern Quran.
“This is where my curiosity started,” he said.
His curiously ultimately resulted in his exhibit "The Holy Quran Pursuit." Over the course of a decade, Aridi developed 114 unique designs for each chapter of the Quran and customized an Arabic calligraphy, creating 376 unique pages, according to the Museum of Texas Tech University's website.
Salwa Mohamedaman, a graduate physician's studies student at Tech who attended the event, said the event was great.
"Prior to the lecture only the first two pages of the lecture were really decorated," Mohamedaman said. "This highlights each and every one in their own way.”
Each page had its now look, Aridi said, but there are similarities also, such as the sacred words opening every chapter.
“Every chapter begins with, ‘In the name of God the merciful the compassionate,'” Aridi said.
Susan Karkoutly, a Lubbock resident, said the exhibit was a great idea to bring attention to the book and Islam. It broadens the view and teaches people what it is about, she said.
“They are all my favorite new designs of color, graphic and background," Karkoutly said. "Very proud, being a Muslim, to have an artist to bring it to the modern world.”
Mohamedaman believes young people and older generations will also appreciate the work, she said.
“I think they would appreciate the calligraphy and graphic in it," she said. "In our religion we are not supposed to draw faces or animals. That is why calligraphy is heavily highlighted."
When creating the book, Aridi said he kept his readers and their beliefs in mind.
“I created my design with a new color, but at the same time doing that I try to maintain the classic look of Islamic art," Aridi said. "I don’t want to offend the Muslim reader or Muslim viewer.”
Source: dailytoreador.com
Most Commented 