As part of the BA celebration of the centenary of the Egyptian School of Arabic Calligraphy, and under the auspices of Dr. Moustafa Elfeki, Director of the BA, an event was organized to launch the book Khodeir Al-Portsaidy… An Egyptian School of Arabic Calligraphy, which was published by the BA Writing and Scripts Center. The event was held on Thursday, 24 February 2022, at 5:00 pm, in Sinnari House in Cairo.
The ceremony started with an opening speech by Dr. Moustafa Elfeki, with the attendance of a host of design professors from several Egyptian universities and institutes, together with members of the Egyptian Association for Arabic Calligraphy; members of the Egyptian Calligraphers Union; Commissioner of the Cairo Forum for Arabic Calligraphy; Chairman of the Cultural Development Fund; Supervisor of Khodeir Al-Portsaidy’s School of Arabic Calligraphy; and leaders from the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. Staff members from the Writing and Scripts Center, the Studio Department, the Publishing Department, and the Art Exhibitions and Collections Department are also expected to attend the event.
Khodeir Al-Portsaidy’s book is part of the series Studies in Contemporary Arabic Calligraphy, which represents an introduction to an extensive research on the Egyptian School of Arabic Calligraphy and its pioneers and most prominent artists. This 340-page book was accomplished in 4 years, and is considered a comprehensive encyclopedia on Arabic calligraphy in its modern age.
Furthermore, a 30-minute documentary film, produced by the BA Studio Department, was screened as part of the ceremony. The film sheds light on the career of the great artist Mr. Khodeir Al-Portsaidy, who is regarded as one of the most major pioneers of the Egyptian School of Arabic Calligraphy.
The ceremony was also accompanied by an exhibition of 30 Arabic calligraphy panels, donated to the BA by Mr. Khodeir Al-Portsaidy. This panel collection was added to the original collection of Arabic calligraphy panels owned by the BA.