Arabic Graffiti

by Don Stone Karl, Don Stone Karl

Without regional borders or constraints, 'Arabic Graffiti' references the use of Arabic script in urban context. It showcases artists, graffiti writers and typographers from the Middle East and around the world who merge Arabic script and calligraphy styles with the art of graffiti writing, street art and urban culture. The project offers many different, diverging and at times contradicting ideas and approaches to treating this sensitive tradition with contemporary vision. To accompany a visual assortment of styles, the book will include several crossover topics, such as classical and contemporary calligraphy, Arabic typography, political graffiti and street art. Curated and authored by Lebanese typographer Pascal Zoghbi and Don M. Zaza aka Stone (Cubabrasil, From Here to Fame Publishing), 'Arabic Graffiti' also features essays by various writers and artists working in this field.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Architecture, Cultural

200 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2011

Reviews

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graffiti/visual cultural of the Arab world, very good reference

[BUDOOR · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's very interesting to see an Arabic street arts, however, while reading the text I found out lots of misleading information. The book is focusing on the political side of streets art, yet it is giving lots of general information about citizens and countries that I can easily disagree with a prove. The book is founded as shown by groups who takes side to groups like "Hzib-Allah" with a racist view that shall only represent less than 12% of the Arabic views. I don't mind arts freedom but I dislike misleading information. For example, the book claims many thing about the Bahraini street such us their loyalty to some non-Bahraini Islamic public fingers. Which is not accurate because in fact the Bahraini street itself is made up by a mixture of opinions and arts. As a result, the book lost it credibility for me after reading the text.

[Mist Triple-g · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed this book a lot

[Smitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection includes some truly beautiful work by artists from a range of locations in a variety of styles and is a fascinating glimpse into that world. The introductions to the alphabet and script were very helpful in prepping the reader for the rest of the book. However, while grafitti is innately connected to politics and expression, some contributing writers spend too much space ranting on the political situation as they perceive it (singling out William Perry in particular) to the point where the essay becomes a political screed with nary a mention of the art at all for long stretches. On the whole, though, an interesting read.

[Azizah Zahra · Rating 4 out of 5]

احسنت!
I really get the best explanation of Arabic Graffiti from this book. This book really helps my essay :)

[Mohamed Hazem · Rating 5 out of 5]

great