Soraya Syed is a classically trained calligrapher, artist and filmmaker of growing international renown. She continually works to push the boundaries of what is expected from this traditional art form. She takes the written word off the page into film, dance and VR and has worked with the likes of Google, the British Museum and Royal Shakespeare Company. She is based in London.
In 2005, Soraya was awarded the sought-after icazetname (the authoritative Islamic calligraphy licence) from Istanbul, Turkey. The art of Islamic penmanship is a bridge between the spiritual and material, the visual and the verbal. It is a living tradition that has the capacity for self-renewal enabling Soraya to adopt a contemporary approach while remaining true to her artistic heritage. Her practice is a process of disciplined freedom where she enjoys the constant tension between remaining true to her classical training while exploring further possibilities.
London’s V&A has one of the world’s finest collections of Islamic art from the Middle East. Among its 10,000 objects are the Ardabil Carpet made in 16th-century Iran, one of the largest and finest carpets in existence, and an exquisite rock crystal ewer from 11th-century Egypt. From the summe...
Zarah Hussain’s sculptural installation Numina was commissioned by the Barbican and installed in the Centre's foyers from 1 October 2016 - 25 January 2017.
Blurring the boundaries between science and spirituality, Islamic geometry is traditionally drawn by hand with a ruler and pen, using mathe...
The Art of Seeing with Peter Sanders programs are designed to teach and instill the ability to tell a story through pictures. The best way to learn is from people who have mastered their craft. We want to create such an environment in different places in the world where everyone, from the beginne...
