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Portfolio

  • Overview

Projects & Commissions

  • Meetings with Mountains
  • Majnun
  • New Cambridge Mosque
  • Charter of Gold, Bahrain
  • City, University of London
  • Google: Soraya's Story
  • Google Qalam
  • Royal Shakespeare Company
  • Hamburg University
  • Bradford Museums
  • Nicolas Aubagnac
  • Museum of Islamic Art
  • Nuqta App
  • Hurriyah
  • Mica Gallery
  • British Museum
  • Aramco Calendar
  • A³
  • King Khaled Book
  • Mona Hatoum
  • Shaza Hotel, Medina
  • Imax Movie
  • Sony PSP
  • Logos
  • Headstones

Originals

  • The Condition of a People
  • Disposition
  • The Cup of Love
  • The Best of Planners
  • Do Not Despair
  • Man, Messenger and the Divine
  • In the Name of God
  • Calligraphy License
  • Be in the World as if a Stranger
  • The Religion of Love
  • Light upon Light
  • The Opening
  • al-‘Eid (The Feast)
  • Letter Waws Embracing
  • Silkscreen Prints

About

  • Biography
  • Consultancy
  • Method
  • FAQ
  • Contact

Biography

Soraya continually works to push the boundaries of what is expected from this traditional art form.

Soraya Syed is a classically trained calligrapher, artist and filmmaker of growing international renown. She continually works to push the boundaries of what is expected from this traditional art form. She takes the written word off the page into film, dance and VR and has worked with the likes of Google, the British Museum and Royal Shakespeare Company. She is based in London.

In 2005, Soraya was awarded the sought-after icazetname (the authoritative Islamic calligraphy licence) from Istanbul, Turkey. The art of Islamic penmanship is a bridge between the spiritual and material, the visual and the verbal. It is a living tradition that has the capacity for self-renewal enabling Soraya to adopt a contemporary approach while remaining true to her artistic heritage. Her practice is a process of disciplined freedom where she enjoys the constant tension between remaining true to her classical training while exploring further possibilities.

CV

Biography 01. Credit:

PRESS

BBC RADIO 3, Free Thinking: Layla and Majnun

BBC CIVILISATIONS, The artist reimagining Islamic calligraphy for the 21st Century

ART WORLD NOW, Nour Festival

BBC WORLD SERVICE, Heart and Soul: Recite!

BBC NEWS, The Koran through the ages

FURTHER INFO

Consultancy
Methods
FAQs
Biography 02. Credit:

© Soraya Syed, Art of the Pen 2022

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