Unlike most Arab and Muslim calligraphers, who tend to restrict Arabic calligraphy to Quranic verses or Hadith, Sameh Ismail opted for a new approach to the world of contemporary calligraphy that makes it a more popular art, accessible to a wider range of art lovers. A Safe Way Out is the title Ismail chose for his new solo exhibition, currently showing at the Zamalek Art Gallery. As I first entered the spacious gallery, I was curious to explore this safe exit. However, the exhibited paintings were so huge that the viewer could easily lose his way in the large white spaces in between calligraphic elements, and the slow, circular lines.

Read More: The Minimalist Maze