Islam Aly

Harf
2025, Edition of 50 variants and five proofs.

Box size: 12.5 x 4.5 x 4”, Book size: 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5” Cloth-covered box with plexiglass components. Coptic-bound book with laser-cut and laser-etched plexiglass covers.
Materials include handmade and aged paper, decorated paper, linen thread, book board, and museum board.

Harf means “letter” in Arabic, highlighting the work’s focus on individual letterforms. The piece consists of two compartments.

The first compartment contains an artist’s book that visually explores Kufic geometric script, one of the oldest and most architecturally structured forms of Arabic calligraphy. Each section of the book presents a single, letter rendered in a geometric Kufic form, celebrating the letter as both a linguistic symbol and a sculptural element.

The book is composed of individually folded sections, with each folio featuring a different type of paper, including handmade sheets, decorated surfaces, and handwritten or textured varieties. This variation in material enhances the contrast between the crisp geometry of the letters and the rich tactile and visual qualities of the paper. The variation of paper types adds layers of meaning, emphasizing the uniqueness and rhythm of each letterform. At the same time, it evokes the historical layering of script and ornament found in Islamic manuscripts, drawing from traditional Islamic visual language while reinterpreting it through a contemporary lens. The use of papers reinforces the book’s material presence and highlights the elegance and expressive power of Kufic calligraphy as a visual art form.

The second compartment contains laser-cut letterforms made of plexiglass, echoing the designs featured in the book. A stand is included, allowing viewers to interact with the letters, displaying them individually or arranging them into visually engaging compositions using the geometric forms.