Arabic Graffiti

Whether on the freight trucks of Lebanon, along village alleyways in Bahrain, on the bullet-riddled walls of Palestine, or adorning the walls of Western metropolises and designer bags, Arabic script has experienced a revival. Graffiti writers are increasingly experimenting with calligraphy on walls, and young designers are creating new fonts and type designs in books, galleries and public spaces. At times, Arabic graffiti voices the suffering of a nation, while in other contexts it serves as a quest for identity. Regardless whether the writing is in Beirut, Gaza, Tehran, Paris, London, Berlin or Montréal, Arabic graffiti cries out personal and national ideas in expressive calligraphic and typographic words.
“Arabic Graffiti” brings together artists, graffiti writers and typographers from the Middle East and around the world who merge Arabic calligraphy with the art of graffiti writing, street art and urban culture. In addition to a rich assortment of photos featuring Arabic graffiti and street art styles, it includes essays by distinguished authors and scene experts, in which they explore the traditional elements, modern approaches, and the socio-political and cultural backgrounds which have shaped Arabic graffiti movements in the Middle East.

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Authors & Artists:

Arabic Graffiti is curated and authored by Lebanese typographer Pascal Zoghbi and graffiti writer and publisher Stone aka Don Karl, is an extensive and valuable reference on contemporary graffiti, urban calligraphy and type design in the realm of Arabic letters.



With contributions and essays by:

Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès,
Rana Jarbou,
Tala F. Saleh,
Houda Kassatly,
William Parry.

Includes the artwork and thoughts of:

Hassan Massoudy,
Malik Anas Al-Rajab,
eL Seed, Hest1,
Julien Breton,
L’ATLAS,
Aerosol Arabic,
Native & ZenTwO,
Zepha aka Vincent Abadie Hafez,
Typism,
Akut,
and many more.