Khatt Books will introduce its newly launched series, the Arabic Design Library followed by presentations
by the authors of the first two books in the series.
—The doors open at 6pm,
—Presentations from 6.30—7.30pm,
—Book-signing and refreshments from 7.30—11 pm
The authors will be available for signing the books which are available for sale at the venue.
Event:
Book Signing & Presentations
Books: Hilmi Al-Tuni and Nasri Khattar
For more information about the books (or to order) please visit http://www.khattbooks.com
All books can also be ordered from the following bookshops in Beirut: Dawawine, Virgin Megastore, Librairie Antoine, Papercup, and Librairie El Bourj. And the following bookshops in Dubai: Virgin Megastore, Kinokuniya, and The Magazine Shop.
About the Arabic Design Library
Progress is built upon the achievements of predecessors. The Arabic Design Library series focuses on inspiring design achievements from the Middle East and North Africa. It aims to highlight the work of prominent Arab typographers, graphic designers and illustrators. With this series of concise monographs, Khatt Books strives to establish a visual record of Arab design history of the 20th century, and pave the way for critical writing, by Arab authors, on design from the region.
About the books
Hilmi Al-Tuni : Evoking Popular Arab Culture
Author: Yasmine Nachabe Taan
Hilmi Al-Tuni is Egyptian and one of the Arab World's most prominent and proficient illustrator and book designer. He has formed with his ubiquitous work the visual sensitivities of generations of Arab children and adults alike. He was socially motivated and believed in bringing art to the average person though design. He strove to develop a true Arab style of illustration, marrying old lettering styles, Islamic and pre-Islamic symbolism, popular culture, and a modernist style of painting. He has worked in editorial design for more than 50 years, illustrated and designed several popular magazines and many book covers for Al-Hilal publishers (Cairo), the visual identity and books for the Arab Institute for Research and Publishing (Beirut), Children's books for Dar al-Fata al-Arabi and Dar al-Shorouk children's books (Beirut and Cairo), and several other major Arab publishers. The breadth and variety of his work is presented and discussed in this highly illustrated monograph, beginning with an intimate interview with the artist/designer.
For video presentation: click here
Nasri Khatt : A Modernist Typotecht
Author: Yara Khoury Nammour.
Nasri Khattar is a Lebanese architect-typographer (he called himself a typotect) whose work was motivated by the Arab post-colonial project of modernity. He participated in the language and script reform project initiated by the Arabic Language Academy in Cairo in the 1930s. Khattar's work focused on the Arabic script's technological and aesthetic reform. With his reduced set of 30 Unified Arabic letters, he strove to democratize knowledge: making reading in Arabic easier to learn, the production and typesetting of Arabic texts faster and cheaper. He experimented with a modern typographic aesthetic that was appropriate for the technology of the period. He designed several typefaces which were cast as metal type, used for typewriters and phototypesetting machines, and produced in 3D form for signage and game boards. He also designed teaching material for children. His typographic work is presented and discussed in this highly illustrated monograph, taking the reader on a journey through the travails of a determined and creative mind, and placing his life's work within the context of the history of the Arabic alphabet and its typographic developments.