Nr.57 Farah Fayyad | Letters with Intent | 14 May 19:30

We have long been inspired by the bold, expressive lettering and political engagement of Farah Fayyad. After some time coordinating with her busy schedule between Beirut and Amsterdam, we are excited to announce her upcoming lecture. On 10 May, visitors to Past Disquiet at Framer Framed will have the opportunity to see her mobile silk-screen carousel in action — a device she has even taken to the streets during the popular uprisings in Beirut in 2019 to print directly onto protesters’ own textiles. Farah Fayyad also created the graphic design for this highly recommended exhibition on international protest movements and has been involved with the project since its inception ten years ago in Beirut.

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Farah Fayyad is a graphic designer and printmaker from Beirut, Lebanon. Classically trained in Arabic calligraphy, her practice aims to preserve the traditional structure and behaviour of the script while reimagining its form — exploring contrast, proportion, and the expressive potential of evolving tools. Her practice aims to produce contemporary Arabic typography that references the past but does not adhere to it stylistically. Farah’s work is mostly within the cultural field, with a special focus on bilingual editorial design. Her practice also involves a lot of play with screen-printing in terms of experimentation, teaching, and performing the craft publicly as interventions/performances. Farah is currently based between Beirut and Amsterdam.

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Her talk dives into the universe of Arabic letterforms, where classical calligraphy collides with experimental lettering. Farah Fayyad traces the evolution of Arabic scripts — from early proportions and systemized structures to expressive contemporary forms — and unpacks the technical and conceptual differences between calligraphy, lettering, and type design. She shares her process from ductus and pen rhythm to the digital construction of letterforms, showing how precision and intuition can coexist. The talk also explores how the Arabic script carries protective and symbolic power, especially in talismanic traditions. She will also show her live screen-printing work, where typography becomes an act of public expression and collective memory.
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Hosted at:
De Lange Adem
Ruyschstraat 295,
1091 DX Amsterdam
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Supported by:

Bold Monday & PICTORIGHT Fonds

Also check out other Arts events in Amsterdam, Fine Arts events in Amsterdam, Performances in Amsterdam.