Sixth Edition of Cairo Int’l Forum for Arabic Calligraphy Celebrates the Pioneers

Artwork by Mohammed Al-Arabi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Artwork by Mohammed Al-Arabi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Sixth Edition of Cairo Int’l Forum for Arabic Calligraphy Celebrates the Pioneers

Artwork by Mohammed Al-Arabi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Artwork by Mohammed Al-Arabi. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The sixth edition of the Cairo International Forum for the Art of Arabic Calligraphy is celebrating pioneers in the field.

These pioneers have laid the technical foundations of this art form in several Arab and foreign countries.

“Teach by the Pen” is organized by the Cultural Development Fund of the Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the Egyptian Association for Arabic Calligraphy, the Fine Arts Sector and the Foreign Cultural Relations Sector.

Held at the Palace of Arts, it will run from June 1-7.

At total of 153 artists from 18 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Yemen, China, Indonesia, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Tanzania, Lebanon and Egypt will participate in the forum. This year’s event will feature workshops, scientific seminars, documentaries and art exhibitions.

The forum bears the name of the great Arabic calligrapher Yusuf Ahmed, who is considered among the pioneers of Kufic calligraphy in the modern era.

A documentary film dedicated to his lifelong contributions to calligraphy will be screened, and his paintings will be exhibited. The forum will also honor Emirati calligrapher Fatima Al-Baqali, Jordanian calligrapher Ibrahim Abu Touq and Egyptian artists Ahmed Al-Masry and Mustafa Al-Omari.



Silver Surfers Mass for Record Bid in Brazil

 Drone picture of surfers trying to ride the same wave to break the Guinness World Record, in Santos, Brazil November 10, 2024. (Reuters)
Drone picture of surfers trying to ride the same wave to break the Guinness World Record, in Santos, Brazil November 10, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

Silver Surfers Mass for Record Bid in Brazil

 Drone picture of surfers trying to ride the same wave to break the Guinness World Record, in Santos, Brazil November 10, 2024. (Reuters)
Drone picture of surfers trying to ride the same wave to break the Guinness World Record, in Santos, Brazil November 10, 2024. (Reuters)

Three hundred surfers over the age of 50 gathered at the weekend in Santos, Sao Paulo to attempt a world record for the most people riding the same wave.

Participants, many of whom took up surfing later in life, arrived early, eager to hit the water.

"I had a crazy desire to learn (to surf) and when I started, I couldn't stop," said Christiane Melin. "It's an addiction, but an addiction that's really good. It's a really great sensation to ride the waves."

The event, organized by a local surf school specializing in teaching older adults, emphasized community and well-being.

"This is a great example to show the world the importance that, after the pandemic and beyond politics, we can all be together on the same wave," said organizer Cisco Arana.

Though the group fell short of breaking the record - 98 surfers managed to ride a wave together, shy of the 110 achieved in South Africa in 2009 - the event highlighted the transformative power of the sport.

"There were some people who were retired and were a bit idle, there were people with depression, there were people with problems, and then they started to get into surfing," said Marco Horta, a retiree.

"While surfing in nature, people talked, made friends and started to be happy."