Ayyam Gallery Dubai (DIFC) is pleased to present 99 Names, the solo exhibition of Iraqi-British artist Sabah Arbilli. Featuring 100 artworks—all measuring 60 x 60 cm—the exhibition will highlight the innovations in calligraphy that distinguish Arbilli’s artistic practice. Recognised as a master of Arabic calligraphy, Arbilli is currently redefining the genre through abstract interpretations of the written word and a variety of media. The exhibition’s included works are computer-generated archival prints, a medium that reflects how even traditional art must advance with the technological and perceptual demands of the day. Imbuing his sculptures, paintings, works on paper, and installations with intricate symbolism and evocative readings of ancient scripts and texts, the artist updates the centuries-old tradition through a transformative formal approach.
In 99 Names, Arbilli explores the referential names and attributes of God that appear in the sacred texts of Islam. With the dynamism of abstract lines and the infinite space of saturated hues, the artist creates meditations on form that communicate the meaning of each name through the visual splendor of endless movement and measureless colour. 99 artworks of the series are untitled, with each composition devoted to a single name, the style of which is inspired by the specific signification of the written word.