Caligraphy at the Meem

From Thu Dec 04 until Thu Jan 15

Discuss this article Meem Gallery, Quoz

We’re bombarded with calligraphy constantly. The number of shows a year that feature wild whipping Arabic repeated endlessly on a canvas are, admittedly, abundant. But there is something new in the air about Hamza Bounoua’s current show at Meem.

The Algerian artist has quite a distinctive style, painting directly onto perspex and then layering panels to give a depth to each of the pieces. The material gives the colours a heightened definition, a sharp crispness – like streaks of colour in the desert.

The calligraphy itself is Arabic but has clear influence from the tribal quarters in and around Algeria. Some of the scripts he uses bear Touareg and distinctly North Africa influence, and Meem have backed up the collection with a few examples of ancient calligraphic Qu’rans (including an incredible, frail text from Mali).

Accompanying the wall panels are a series of pyramidal sculptures, each like the peak of an obelisk, which work well in the space – they break up the huge collection and the script seems to give the pyramids an eerie strength.

The only slight problem with the show is that the works have been placed under glass and the overhead lights have the effect of glaring the pieces. It means that to really see everything within the frames, we have to get close and this takes something away from the overall design composition that Bounoua makes his own.

Still, one of the most exciting calligraphy shows to come to Dubai for a while. Bounoua manages to synthesise the traditional with something that’s beyond tradition – it lies in a rarely seen, distinctly African aesthetic.

Meem Gallery (04 347 7883), Umm Suqeim Road, heading towards Arabian Ranches. Until January 15

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