Rome, April 2018 — On April 21st, at the Italian Geographical Society, in collaboration with the Iraqi Embassy in Rome, my colleagues and I organized a one-day workshop on Arabic calligraphy with Amjed Rifaie. Originally from Tikrit, Iraq, he is a calligrapher who has been based in Rome for almost ten years.
The workshop took place in the peaceful setting of the Society’s historic library, housed in a sixteenth-century building in the heart of Villa Celimontana, not far from the Colosseum.
Twelve participants attended the Arabic calligraphy workshop with Amjed Rifaie, during which they learned about the history of Arabic calligraphy, its different styles, and the fundamentals of the technique.
Demonstrating the use of the qalam, Amjed explained how to draw the letters according to the rules of this fascinating, centuries-old art form. Music accompanied the session, helping participants to concentrate and to try their hand at this challenging practice. During the lunch break, they were also able to enjoy delicious Arabic dishes prepared by Iraqi chef Waqar Younus.
