workshop

Arabic calligraphy workshop

Join us on Saturday 3 February to celebrate the current exhibition Fonāna, with an Arabic calligraphy workshop taught by master Mohamad Badenjki. Surrounded by art works in the exhibition, you will learn more about the history of the craftmanship and design and execute lettering with a reed pen, homemade ink and paper.  

Mohamad Badenjki

About Mohamad Badenjki

Syrian born Mohamad Badenjki, is a certified calligrapher who was taught by masters Ferhat Kurlu, Mumtaz Durdu and witnessed by Hasan Çelbi. He is specialized in the two oldest scripts - Thuluth and Nasikh. When fleeing Syria, his paper, inkt and pens were the first things he put in his bag.

In 2018, Badenjki fulfilled his dream when he received his master degree in Arabic Calligraphy. He now travels and teaches throughout Europe, with the goal to to preserve the art form and gain more recognition for the craft.

Middle East Culture Market 2023 © Matthijs Zondervan

Discover more:

Coffee Table: Ceremonies of Hospitality

Parallel to this event, we're hosting the event Ceremonies of Hospitality - Dallah W Fenjal in collaboration with Common Ground and the ceremony of making Arabic coffee or Qahwa قهوة.

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Labour of Love, W139 Hosts, September 2023 © Common Ground

About Contemporary female artists from Saudi Arabia – Fonāna

The Salad Zone © Sarah Abu Abdallah / Greenbox Museum

Foam proudly presents the exhibition Fonāna (فنانة), meaning ‘female artist’ in Arabic. This showcase delves into the world of eight contemporary female artists from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, capturing their candid perspectives from within the nation. It offers a unique perspective on a country that, by Western standards, is often seen as conservative and of which the accessibility to outsiders is sometimes underestimated.

Foam is supported by de VriendenLoterij, Foam Members, De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, the VandenEnde Foundation and the City of Amsterdam.


Close-up of Arabic calligraphy practice

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Arabic calligraphy workshop