AL-SHAARANI, Mouneer; SMITSHUIJZEN ABIFARÈS, Huda; SAMIR, Nagla
Mouneer Al-Shaarani. Against the Grain: Exploring the Scope of the Arabic Letter

Mouneer Al-Shaarani (b. 1952) is a prolific and highly acclaimed Syrian calligrapher and designer. He began his calligraphic apprenticeship at a young age, with Syrian master calligrapher Muhammad Badawi Al-Dirani (1894–1967). After 1967, and in parallel with his studies, he practiced calligraphy as sign-painter and created lettering for billboard advertising and other design commissions. He was part of the first graduating class from the Graphic Design program at the Faculty of Fine Arts (Kulliyat al-Funūn) in Damascus University, studying under eminent design pioneer Abdelkader Arnaout (1936–1992), graduating in 1977.

This book intends to shed light on Al-Shaarani’s prolific graphic design practice and his unique visual language, tracing the tumultuous life of Al-Shaarani: his serial migrations and their effect on his work. This book strives to present to the reader a clear vision of Mouneer Al-Shaarani’s willingness to go against the grain in exploring the scope of the Arabic letter and its potential for continuing renewal, evolution, and cultural progress. [publishers’ note]

Bilingual English / Arabic.

Published by Khatt Books, 2023
Design by Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès and Andrea Hayek
Monographs / Typography / Graphic Design