🎨Non-Western Modernisms Unit 7 – Arab Modernism: Hurufiyya & Baghdad Group

Historical Context

• Arab Modernism emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to political and cultural shifts in the Arab world
• Influenced by the end of colonialism and the rise of Arab nationalism in countries like Iraq, Syria, and Egypt
• Artists sought to create a distinct Arab aesthetic that blended traditional calligraphic forms with modern art techniques
  • Drew inspiration from Islamic art history and the Arabic alphabet
  • Aimed to assert a unique Arab cultural identity in the face of Western influence
• Coincided with the rise of Pan-Arabism, a political movement that advocated for Arab unity and solidarity
• Developed alongside other modernist art movements in the region, such as the Egyptian Art and Liberty Group
• Hurufiyya and the Baghdad Group were two key manifestations of Arab Modernism in the visual arts
• Reflected a broader intellectual and cultural renaissance in the Arab world during the post-colonial period

Key Figures and Artists

• Madiha Umar (1908-2005): Iraqi artist and founding member of the Baghdad Group
  • Pioneered the use of Arabic calligraphy in modern art
  • Known for her abstract paintings incorporating Arabic letters and words
• Jamil Hamoudi (1924-2003): Iraqi artist and co-founder of the Baghdad Group
  • Developed a distinctive style that combined Islamic motifs with Cubist and Surrealist elements
  • Influenced by his studies in Paris and exposure to Western modernist art
• Shakir Hassan Al Said (1925-2004): Iraqi artist and theorist of Hurufiyya
  • Wrote extensively on the philosophy and aesthetics of the Hurufiyya movement
  • Created abstract works that explored the spiritual and symbolic dimensions of the Arabic alphabet
• Dia Azzawi (b. 1939): Iraqi artist and leading figure in the second generation of the Baghdad Group
  • Known for his bold, colorful paintings and prints that incorporate Arabic calligraphy and political themes
  • Has exhibited widely internationally and played a key role in promoting Arab Modernism globally
• Kamal Boullata (1942-2019): Palestinian artist and art historian
  • Wrote influential texts on the history and theory of Arab Modernism and Hurufiyya
  • Created geometric abstract paintings inspired by Islamic art and Arabic calligraphy

Defining Hurufiyya

• Hurufiyya, meaning "letterism" in Arabic, is a key concept and movement within Arab Modernism
• Refers to the use of Arabic letters and calligraphic forms as the basis for abstract art
• Emerged in the 1940s and 50s among artists in Iraq, Lebanon, and other Arab countries
• Sought to create a modern visual language rooted in Arab cultural heritage
  • Drew on the rich tradition of Islamic calligraphy and manuscript illumination
  • Incorporated Arabic letters not just as linguistic elements, but as visual and symbolic forms
• Emphasized the aesthetic and spiritual qualities of the Arabic alphabet
  • Explored the mystical dimensions of letters as sacred symbols in Sufi thought
  • Used calligraphic forms to evoke concepts of unity, harmony, and divine presence
• Developed in parallel with other international art movements like Lettrism and Abstract Expressionism
• Represented a broader effort by Arab artists to assert their cultural identity and artistic autonomy

The Baghdad Group: Origins and Aims

• The Baghdad Group for Modern Art was founded in 1951 by a group of Iraqi artists, including Jawad Saleem and Shakir Hassan Al Said
• Emerged in the context of Iraq's newfound independence and the rise of Arab nationalism under Prime Minister Abd al-Karim Qasim
• Sought to create a distinctly Iraqi modern art that drew on the country's ancient heritage and Islamic traditions
• Aimed to promote the idea of a shared Arab cultural identity and to resist Western cultural imperialism
• Organized exhibitions, lectures, and publications to promote their ideas and to foster a modern art scene in Baghdad
  • Held their first group exhibition in 1951 at the School of Fine Arts in Baghdad
  • Published a manifesto outlining their artistic and cultural goals
• Embraced a variety of modernist styles and techniques, from Cubism to Abstraction to Hurufiyya
• Included artists from diverse backgrounds, including painters, sculptors, and architects
• Played a key role in the development of Iraqi modern art and inspired similar groups in other Arab countries

Artistic Techniques and Styles

• Artists associated with Hurufiyya and the Baghdad Group employed a range of modernist techniques and styles
• Abstract Expressionism: many artists used gestural brushwork and spontaneous mark-making to create non-representational compositions
  • Shakir Hassan Al Said's "Contemplation" series features bold, calligraphic strokes that evoke a sense of spiritual energy
• Cubism: some artists incorporated Cubist techniques of fragmentation and multiple perspectives into their work
  • Jamil Hamoudi's "Calligraphic Composition" breaks down Arabic letters into geometric shapes and planes
• Surrealism: artists drew on Surrealist ideas of automatism and the subconscious to create dreamlike, symbolic images
  • Madiha Umar's "Untitled" paintings feature biomorphic forms and enigmatic symbols that suggest a hidden, mystical reality
• Geometric Abstraction: many artists used geometric shapes and patterns derived from Islamic art and architecture
  • Dia Azzawi's "Homage to the Square" series features interlocking squares and rectangles that recall the designs of Islamic tilework
• Calligraphy: the use of Arabic calligraphy was a defining feature of Hurufiyya, with artists incorporating letters and words into their compositions in various ways
  • Kamal Boullata's "Silsilah" paintings feature intricate, interlacing calligraphic forms that create a sense of rhythm and movement

Cultural and Political Influences

• The rise of Arab nationalism and the end of colonialism in the Arab world had a profound impact on the development of Hurufiyya and the Baghdad Group
  • Artists sought to create a distinctly Arab modernism that asserted their cultural identity and autonomy
  • The use of Arabic calligraphy and Islamic motifs was a way of reclaiming and revalorizing Arab cultural heritage
• The Pan-Arab movement, which sought to unite the Arab world politically and culturally, was another key influence
  • Artists saw their work as part of a broader effort to promote Arab solidarity and resist Western cultural imperialism
  • The Baghdad Group in particular was closely aligned with the Iraqi government's Pan-Arab policies under Prime Minister Abd al-Karim Qasim
• The Arab-Israeli conflict and the Palestinian struggle for self-determination also shaped the political consciousness of many Arab modernists
  • Palestinian artists like Kamal Boullata used calligraphy and geometric abstraction to express themes of exile, resistance, and cultural identity
• The Cold War and the rise of leftist political movements in the Arab world also had an impact on Arab modernist art
  • Some artists, like Dia Azzawi, incorporated socialist and anti-imperialist themes into their work
  • The Baghdad Group was initially supported by the Iraqi Communist Party, which saw art as a tool for social and political change

Major Works and Exhibitions

• "One Dimension" (1971) by Shakir Hassan Al Said: a seminal work of Hurufiyya that features a single Arabic letter repeated in a grid-like composition
  • Exemplifies Al Said's theory of the "one-dimension," which holds that the Arabic letter contains within it the essence of all forms and meanings
• "Homage to Jamil Hamoudi" (1988) by Dia Azzawi: a large-scale print that pays tribute to one of the founding members of the Baghdad Group
  • Features a fragmented portrait of Hamoudi surrounded by calligraphic forms and abstract shapes in bold colors
  • Demonstrates Azzawi's mastery of printmaking techniques and his commitment to honoring the pioneers of Iraqi modern art
• "Al-Mu'allaqat" (1978) by Madiha Umar: a series of seven large-scale paintings inspired by the pre-Islamic Arabic odes known as the "Mu'allaqat"
  • Each painting features a different Arabic letter or word that evokes the themes and imagery of one of the odes
  • Showcases Umar's ability to translate literary and cultural references into abstract visual forms
• "First Exhibition of the Baghdad Group for Modern Art" (1951): the inaugural exhibition of the Baghdad Group, held at the School of Fine Arts in Baghdad
  • Featured works by founding members such as Jawad Saleem, Shakir Hassan Al Said, and Qahtan Awni
  • Marked the beginning of a new era in Iraqi modern art and helped to establish the Baghdad Group as a major force in the Arab art world
• "Word into Art: Artists of the Modern Middle East" (2006): a major exhibition at the British Museum in London that showcased the work of Arab modernists and contemporary artists
  • Included works by Hurufiyya artists such as Madiha Umar, Shakir Hassan Al Said, and Dia Azzawi
  • Helped to introduce the work of Arab modernists to a wider international audience and to situate them within the broader context of global modern art

Legacy and Contemporary Impact

• Hurufiyya and the Baghdad Group played a crucial role in the development of modern art in the Arab world
  • Helped to establish a distinct Arab aesthetic that blended modernist techniques with Islamic cultural traditions
  • Paved the way for subsequent generations of Arab artists who continue to engage with themes of cultural identity, political resistance, and spiritual expression
• The use of Arabic calligraphy in modern and contemporary art has become a global phenomenon, with artists from diverse backgrounds incorporating Arabic letters into their work
  • Examples include the Pakistani-American artist Shahzia Sikander, the French-Tunisian artist eL Seed, and the Chinese-American artist Xu Bing
• The legacy of the Baghdad Group has been celebrated in recent years with major exhibitions and publications
  • The "Taking Shape" exhibition at the Grey Art Gallery in New York (2020) explored the history and impact of the Baghdad Group and other Arab modernist movements
  • The book "Modernism in Baghdad" by Nada Shabout (2020) provides a comprehensive overview of the Baghdad Group and its role in the development of Iraqi modern art
• Contemporary Arab artists continue to engage with the themes and techniques pioneered by Hurufiyya and the Baghdad Group
  • Examples include the Lebanese artist Joana Hadjithomas, who uses calligraphy and geometric abstraction to explore issues of memory and identity
  • The Palestinian artist Hazem Harb incorporates archival photographs and calligraphic forms into his collages and installations, which deal with themes of displacement and resistance
• The legacy of Arab Modernism has also been shaped by political events and conflicts in the region, such as the Gulf Wars and the Arab Spring
  • Many contemporary Arab artists use their work to respond to these events and to advocate for social and political change
  • The destruction of cultural heritage sites in Iraq and Syria has also lent new urgency to the project of preserving and promoting Arab cultural identity through art