Samir Al Sayegh

Place: Beirut

Born: 1945

Biography:

Born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1945, Samir Al Sayegh is a prolific critic, author, poet, and visual artist. He first encountered calligraphy at the age of 12 when his teacher informed him that he had beautiful handwriting. His journey in calligraphy continued with his studies at the Saint Savior Convent in Joun, Lebanon, where he was granted access to rare and ancient Arabic books. This exposure led him to cultivate a deep appreciation for calligraphy and its visual aspect, which eventually influenced his pursuit of an art history degree from the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. After returning from Paris, he began writing for several renowned newspapers and journals in the Middle East, including Lissan Al-Hal newspaper and Finoun Arabia. This legitimacy helped him publish his first book of poems, Maqam al-Qaws wa Ahwal Al-Sahm, in 1980. Throughout the 1980s, he consistently held exhibitions of calligraphic works and wrote critical publications, also working on a book about his art. Samir Al Sayegh is known for breaking away from traditional modes of language and meaning, and has been recognized as a master calligrapher who has found his letters of nobility in his art.