Rabat – Maktub, an Arabic word with dual meaning, denoting both the written word and sealed destiny, is the name that two Moroccan and Syrian Isreali artists chose for the calligraphy art exhibition held in Jerusalem through the end of 2021.
Part of the fifth annual Biennale for Contemporary Jewish Art, the exhibition showcases creative calligraphy works mixing Arabic and Hebrew letters in fascinating geometric shapes.
The calligraphy art exhibition comes in the light of the US-brokered Abraham accord between Israel and a number of Arab countries, including Bahrain, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates.
The exhibition features works by 10 Emirati and Israeli calligraphy artists.
American-Syrian artist Mizrachi first conceived the idea for the exhibition and reached out to Mechtaly, who was more than willing to collaborate under this theme of personal relevance to her as she had just learnt that her grandfather was Jewish.
The art exhibition, featuring works in Arabic, Hebrew, and Tamazight letters, venerates the rich history uniting Muslims and Jews.
Interview with Moroccan-born artist Chama Mechtaly
Speaking to Morocco World News, the UAE-based Moroccan artist Chama Mechtaly
explained that the Maktub art exhibition is the first-of-its-kind art collaboration between UAE and Isreali artists.
Mechtaly elaborated on the significance of the event, stating that “the Maktoub exhibition is the first grassroots initiative between artists in the UAE and Israel, both endorsed and welcomed by the two governments.”
She added, “It was important to push for cultural cooperation that highlights both the significance and sanctity of the written word in Arabic and Hebrew for both cultures and to anchor all of the regional cooperation we see today through the Abraham
Accords in a long history of Muslim-Jewish collaboration and syncretism in our part of the world.”
With a mixture of Hebrew Arabic letters, the calligraphy aims to establish familiarity and help Muslims and Jews trace the lines of shared history of religious tolerance, according to the artist.
Ultimately, Chama believes that art can foster compassion, help reconcile long divided nations, and pave the way for the healing process necessary to establish lasting peace.
“Art can be leveraged to foster social receptivity to ‘the othered group’ and foster the capacity for compassion, imagination, reconciliation and healing which are all necessary ingredients for peace,” the artist told MWN.
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Moroccan-born artist Chama shared that she harnesses visual arts to deconstruct the idea that Muslims and Jews are different. “I started this work 15 years ago when it was difficult to even speak about Jewish identity or history in North-Africa.”
Even in the absence of larger diplomatic relations between Israel and Morocco, Moroccans had all heard personal accounts from parents and grandparents of their encounters with the Moroccan Jewish community, trailed the artist.
“Unlike Morocco, the UAE does not have a history of Muslim-Jewish collaboration, so it’s critical to set the right foundation for peace today,” the artist commented, highlighting the importance of the event in seeding peace between the two nations.
Since the establishment of Israel in the Middle East in 1948, Israeli and Arab countries have been locked in a continuous feud. As evidenced in the US-brokered Abraham accord in 2020, however, there are growing markers of the possibility of lasting peace in theMiddle East conflict.
Morocco history has long been intertwined with its Jewish community, explained the Moroccan artist.
Chama further expressed her gratitude to the American and British support the exhibition elicited, hoping that this event will be the start of many to follow.
