Description
Maqamat Al-Hariri: The Art of Eloquence is an exhibition inspired by one of the great masterpieces of Arabic literature. Written in Basra in the twelfth century, Al-Hariri’s maqamat follow Abu Zayd, a dazzling trickster and performer who travels from city to city, using language to charm, deceive and survive.
The exhibition brings this literary world to life through the work of two Qatari artists. Wadha Al Athba creates miniature paintings inspired by classical Islamic visual traditions, while Zainab Al Shibani explores Arabic lettering, typography and the visual power of the written word.
Together, their work celebrates the maqamat as both storytelling and linguistic performance, showing how Al-Hariri’s playful, inventive Arabic continues to inspire artists today.
Presented in partnership with Qatar National Library.
About the Artists
Zainab Al Shibani
Zainab AlShibani is a Doha-based graphic designer and lettering artist whose work explores dreamlike interpretations of life, time, gender and language. A VCUarts Qatar graduate, she has taken part in international residencies and art trips, including ISCP in New York and Ektashif in Istanbul. Alongside branding projects for local businesses, she continues to develop her screen-printing practice and share it with Qatar’s creative community.
Wadha Al-Athba
Wadha Al-Athba is a Qatari author and artist known for her work in Islamic arts and classical Arabic literature. She gained prominence for her authored and illustrated Spanish-language edition of the classic fable Kalila wa Dimna, published by Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Press.
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