Until 31 January 2026, Casa Árabe de Madrid presents the exhibition Del álif a la zain. Calligraphic art in motion, dedicated to avant-garde Arabic calligraphy, curated by Toufik Douib.
The exhibition brings together the work of ten artists from the region and diaspora whose works underline the versatility and richness of contemporary Arab representation.
Del álif a la zain is a collective exhibition that celebrates the creative power and constant evolution of the Arabic language in contemporary culture, both in the Middle East and North Africa and internationally. While calligraphy remains his most emblematic visual reference, more and more artists are transcending the codes of traditional illustration and experimenting with poetic letters, radical typefaces and bold hybrid aesthetics. In this process of continuous reinvention, the use of Arabic in art addresses critical and universal questions: letters become gestures of cultural positioning, words unfold as social or political manifestos, and design opens up new territories for dialogue.
With the participation of ten artists from the region and in the diaspora, whose works address the multifaceted notion of «arabity», this multidisciplinary exhibition reflects the diversity of voices and perspectives that shape Arab expression and the legacy of its writing. Del álif a la zain underlines the versatility and richness of contemporary Arabic representation, showing language not only as a link with heritage, but also, today more than ever, as a dynamic tool for creation, Transmission and resistance in a world marked by complex geopolitical tensions.
The artists present at the exhibition are: Hamed Abdallah, Idriss Azougaye, Nasreddine Bennacer, Akram Idris, Anissa Lalahoum, Mosa One, Shareef Sarhan, Bahia Shehab, Sarah Smahane and Haythem Zakaria.
