The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, in cooperation with the Embassy of South Africa in Jordan, is organizing “The Two Seas”, an Arabic calligraphy exhibition by South African calligrapher Mohammed Hobe. The exhibition will open at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, at the National Gallery’s Wasil Gallery, Building 2, and will run until October 24.
اضافة اعلان
The exhibition features 19 manuscripts showcasing different styles of Arabic calligraphy inspired by the Holy Quran.
Hobe was born in the rural village of Cofimvaba in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. He is a distinguished calligrapher whose work brings together South African heritage and the longstanding traditions of Islamic art.
Hobe’s journey into Islamic studies began after his family converted to Islam in 1991, marking a turning point in his life.
In 1994, he enrolled at the Waterfall Islamic Institute, a boarding school for boys in South Africa, where he studied Islamic sciences and memorized the Holy Quran. During this period, his interest in Arabic calligraphy grew, and he discovered an artistic talent that would later become the focus of his professional life.
Hobe’s talent caught the attention of Turkish calligrapher Hilal Kazan, who encouraged him to continue his studies in Türkiye. In 2009, he began studying in Istanbul under renowned calligrapher Hasan Çelebi, one of the leading figures in contemporary Islamic calligraphy. He trained under Çelebi for four years before receiving his ijazah (calligraphic certification) in the Thuluth and Naskh scripts in 2013. This qualification placed him among a lineage of calligraphers dedicated to preserving the traditions of Ottoman Arabic calligraphy and passing them on to new generations.
Since receiving his ijazah, Hobe has participated in numerous exhibitions, workshops and international cultural programs, helping share his expertise, promote interest in Islamic artistic heritage and contribute to its preservation. His work reflects a deep respect for the classical principles and rules of Arabic calligraphy, while also incorporating his contemporary artistic sensibility.
Hobe currently lives and works in Istanbul, where he continues to produce original calligraphic works and teach at the Enderun Arts Center, which specializes in traditional Islamic arts.
Resource: Al-Ghad.
