SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES

The International and Middle Eastern Studies Department

PRESENTS

Nur al-Qalam: Earthly Embodiments of Spiritual Realities

A talk with artist:

Antonella Leoni

Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.
c-227

Antonella Leoni is an Italian artist who lives and works in Cairo. She is an expert in Islamic Art with a passion for Arabic calligraphy and marbling. Her works are a sophisticated fusion of arts and cultures. They hold sofia (σοφία)—that is culture, knowledge, wisdom and spirituality—together in a visual thought. These works represent beautiful objects but also works of contemplation and reflection.

Her recent international exhibitions include the “Italy, Cultures, Mediterranean” project in Jordan, the “Al Azhar Al Sharief Forum for Arabic Calligraphy” in Cairo, and the UNESCO's Headquarter exhibition "Arabic Language. A Bridge Between Civilizations” in Paris.

The talk:

Verses from the Holy Qur’an, hadith and old poems inspire her feelings and imagination, as well as the ancient pattern marbling motifs that create unique effects that are impossible to replicate. Although marbling may appear as the simplest step in Antonella’s creative process, it is a critical one in terms of output, as there is no possibility to correct once the shape is transferred to the paper. Indeed, the marbling process symbolizes both the abstract expression, which constitutes the most basic philosophy in Islamic art, and submission to the Divine, which constitutes the most basic attitude in Islam.