Guests of the festival were transported to the rooftop diner reception at ATHR Gallery.

I have been treated with a quick visit to the installed works of art.

ATHR Gallery is proud to present its 7th edition of YSA – “From the Form of Spirit to the Spirit of Form” Exhibition. In this year’s edition of YSA, we join the nationwide celebration of the significance of Arabic calligraphy, and for the first time, opened our call for submissions to the Arab world, asking young talents from the MENA region and the globe to join in our celebration. We received an array of impressive traditional and contemporary explorations of Arabic calligraphy. Calligraphers, artists, photographers, and designers all sent in their interpretations of what contemporary calligraphy is to them. 

From the form of spirit to the spirit of form.

Since its inception, the art of calligraphy has been reinventing itself with the introduction of every new tool and technology. In contemporary times and over the span of just a few generations, the spirit of this sacred art has been molded into numerous forms. Originally ignited by a spiritual message, encapsulated in the arrangement of lines and strokes, now calligraphy takes multiple forms, mediums, and medias. the invention of the letter press, typewriter, and the digitization of text all enriched the art that we now call “contemporary calligraphy”.    

In this year’s edition of YSA, we join the nationwide celebration of the significance of Arabic calligraphy, and for the first time, opened our call for submissions to the Arab world, asking young talents from the MENA region to join in our celebration. We received an array of impressive traditional and contemporary explorations of Arabic calligraphy. Calligraphers, artists, photographers, and designers all sent in their interpretations of what contemporary calligraphy is to them. 

Through a rigorous multilayered judging process lead by esteemed names in the world of the Arabic letter, we are pleased to share with you this year’s 19 artists, each of the developed artworks encapsulates a different form of the spirit of this sacred art, recording the current moment in this art’s timeless journey of advancement as technologies and tools evolve. 

- Dr. Rawaa Bakhsh

Participating Artists:

1. Abdulrahman Alkabran
2. Ahmad Jeddawi
3. Asaad Badawi
4. Bayan Barboud
5. Cristiana de Marchi
6. Daliah Qadi
7. Hind Alghamdi
8. Huda Al-Aithan
9. Lama Abdulrahman
10. Mariem Abutaleb
11. Mohammad Filfilan
12. Nabil Bukhari
13. Nour Saab
14. Samah Bahajri
15. Shaker Kashgari  
16. Wafaa 
17. Zainab Alshibani
18. Zayn Qahtani
19. Zena Adhami

The exhibition opens on 01 December 2021 at Space 01 Athr Gallery Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

About the Curator

Dr. Rawaa Bakhsh is an independent researcher, educator, curator, and a cultural consultant. She Holds degrees in Cultural studies, Art, and design from Queens university (PhD), OCAD university (MFA), and Dar Al-hekma (BFA). Notable mention: she was one of the participants of YSA-2013 as an artist, she joins Athr today as the curator of this year’s 7th edition of Young Saudi Artists – Calligraphy edition. 

Since its inception in Jeddah in 2009, Athr Gallery has played a pivotal role in building the Contemporary art scene in Saudi; valuing experimentation and the exploration of new ideas, disseminating the artists’ role in the creative process and the impact they can have on societies.

As a relentless supporter of young as well as established artists from Saudi Arabia and the Arab region, Athr has been providing a number of opportunities for furthering knowledge and experience within its multidisciplinary space in Jeddah and beyond, such as international residencies, special commissions, international group exhibitions, symposia, funding and more.

Founded by Hamza Serafi­ and Mohammed Hafi­z, whose passion and network allow Athr to have a deeply engaged discourse in the local art scene, they have taken on the initiative of filling the absence of public art institutions, museums and art schools to establish a sustainable art scene open to the world all while having an international presence.