Mohammed Belkacem al-Qundusî (d. 1861)

Mohammed Belkacem al-Qundusi was an Algerian calligrapher, renowned for his mastery of different calligraphic styles and his contribution to the art of calligraphy in Algeria.

A native of Kenadsa, in the wilaya of Béchar, he studied jurisprudence and Sufism at the zaouïa zianiyya chadhuliyya in Kenadsa, before moving to Fez, Morocco, where he distinguished himself as an erudite calligrapher.

He died in 1861, leaving behind a large body of work. Among his most remarkable achievements is the transcription of the Qur’an in twelve volumes, using the highly refined al-khatt al-maghribi style of calligraphy. This copy of the Qur’an, completed on September 8, 1850, is currently housed at the Hasaniyya Royal Library in Rabat (Morocco).

Mohammed Racim (1896-1975)

Born in Algiers, Mohammed Racim (1896-1975) is one of the most important artists in the history of Algerian art. Inheriting his family’s fabulous “métier” (artisanal skill), he achieved the excellence of the works of medieval Persia, while remaining rooted in his own time and country as a miniaturist.

His favorite themes are war and sports, historical figures, and religious and social life. An important part of his work is the illumination of the Qur’an. He thus produced an entirely new art form in which the rules of perspective, hitherto ignored, made a discreet and unprecedented entry onto the artistic scene.

Mohammed Racim draws his inspiration from the Algerian world, the city of swashbucklers, and the hills of the Sahel. His teaching has contributed to the training of many generations of artists and calligraphers, passing on his knowledge and love for this ancient art.

Ghani Alani (1937-)

He is the great master of contemporary Arabic calligraphy, one who praised the divine word. The last heir of the Baghdad school, Ghani Alani introduced the art of calligraphy to the West, describing it as a gift to humanity. The UNESCO prize (Unesco Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture) awarded to him in 2009 is not only a consecration but also a mark of recognition of calligraphy as one of the great art forms.

Born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1937, he studied law in Baghdad and Paris, and art at the Baghdad Institute of Fine Arts and the University of Paris VII. From an early age, he began practicing calligraphy and had the opportunity to study under the tutelage of Iraqi master calligrapher Hashem Muhammad al-Baghdadi (1917-1973). In 1967, he obtained a diploma in calligraphy (ijâza) and a second ijâza in 1975, awarded by Hamid al-Amidi (1891/1982) of the Ottoman School of Calligraphy.

Ghani Alani perpetuates a glorious tradition of Arab-Muslim calligraphy, symbolizing the highest expression of knowledge, combining tradition and modernity.

Hossein Zenderoudi (1937-)

Born in Tehran in 1937, Hossein Zenderoudi is an Iranian calligrapher and multi-faceted graphic artist. Heir to a great and magnificent civilization of the sign, where the arts of the book, calligraphy, miniatures, and illumination are mutually embellishing, he is known for his role in introducing calligraphy into modern art.

In the 1960s, Zenderoudi began to incorporate calligraphy into his work, creating a unique style that blends tradition and modernity. He explores the rules of calligraphy, using abstract shapes, patterns and colors to represent Arabic and Persian letters. The letter is placed at center stage, like writing that walks and runs, dotting space. His paintings and works are dynamic, with strong contrasts and an exploration of texture and matter. His exceptional talent enables him to transcend the categories and definitions of art, culture, heritage and place.

Tan Swie-Hian (1943-)

Tan Swie-Hian is a Singaporean artist, poet and writer born in Indonesia in 1943. He is recognized for his significant contribution to Singapore’s art scene and is considered one of the country’s most influential artists.

He began his artistic career in the 1960s with an experimental, multidisciplinary approach to art, exploring painting, sculpture, poetry, writing and music. Tan is also known for his fast, fluid calligraphy, which conveys the act of becoming aware, with its hesitations and erasures, rather than strictly following traditional norms. Over the decades, he has developed a speed of execution that pushes him to concentrate on the essential.

More recently, his calligraphies have been chosen to decorate public spaces, notably the Singapore metro, where one station (Chinatown) features a décor entitled “The domain of the phoenix eye”, with a calligraphic poem in large ideograms reproduced on the platform, as well as mural images recalling the arrival of the first immigrant workers in Singapore.

Honda Kôichi (1946-)

Honda Kôichi is an eminent Japanese calligrapher, renowned both in Japan and abroad, especially in the world of Islam, which continues to tirelessly feed his imagination. His skilful pen, meticulous and respectful of the golden rules of this age-old art, makes him a true goldsmith of refined writing. Born in 1946 in Kanagawa prefecture, he studied Arabic at Tokyo University of Foreign Languages and Cultures. During a stay in the Middle East, he learned Arabic calligraphy from local masters. On his return to Japan, he continued his self-taught apprenticeship, winning numerous prizes, including the Jury Prize at the International Arabic Calligraphy Competition. In 2000, he was awarded the title of calligrapher (ijâza) by Turkish master Hasan Çelebi (1937-).

Mohamed Larbi Belcadi (1951-)

Born in 1951, Mohamed Larbi Belcadi is a renowned Algerian calligrapher. He developed his talent from an early age, training with the great masters of calligraphy. He studied various Arabic scripts, which he adapted to his personal style. Belcadi’s work is distinguished by its creativity and exploration of new forms and styles in calligraphy. He not only reproduces classical scripts, but also adds a contemporary touch to his work. In addition to his artistic practice, Belcadi also plays a role in the teaching of calligraphy in Algeria, passing on his knowledge and expertise to many generations of artists and calligraphers. His work continues to be exhibited and recognized both nationally and internationally.

Rachid Koraïchi (1947-)

A plastic artist, writer and member of a prestigious family descended from the Prophet, Rachid Koraïchi possesses a multi-faceted personality. Born in 1947 in Aïn Beïda (Algeria) and living in France since 1968, he transcends geographical, intellectual and spiritual boundaries to build bridges between cultures. A visionary artist, he invites viewers to reflect and connect on a deeply spiritual and humanistic level. Deeply nourished by Sufi mysticism, Rachid Koraïchi’s universal work is inspired by numbers and calligraphy.

As an artist-poet, he also draws on the symbolic richness of the letter. His ability to reproduce the suras of the holy book bears witness to his Qur’anic background.

Endowed with an unfailing optimism, he speaks tirelessly of his projects around the world, and describes himself as an artist the soles of whose shoes ride on the wind.