The Emirati calligraphy artist discusses her collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels and how her work offers a fresh perspective on tradition and heritage.
Canvas: What inspires your practice and how does this impact the materials you use?
Fatima Alketbi: My work is inspired by Emirati heritage, poetry and casual conversations with my family. These sources influence the materials I use to bring my calligraphy to life. I feel that I grow as I discover more, and that this allows me to be creative without placing limitations on my art. I always enjoy experimenting with new and different materials in my work. I create calligraphy through innovative ways to showcase the richness of my culture to the modern world in a fresh light. I look forward to continuing on my artistic journey in a way that keeps my roots alive while also embracing the world of design.
What are some examples of the materials you use in your practice and how do they relate to your heritage?
I engage with diverse cultural materials, blending tradition with contemporary expression. Initially I was inspired by my grandmother’s poetry, so I worked with materials such as henna, sana’a (liquid perfume) and neel (indigo), each carrying its own profound story. Recently, I explored the use of Kohl Al Athmad, traditionally used by Emirati women to enhance the beauty of their eyes. For my collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels, I’m shedding light on the beauty of the palm trees and I wanted to infuse this cultural connection into my designs by utilising the fronds. It is a diverse material which allows me to form different shapes.
How are the palm fronds used in the collaboration?
The designs I have created for Van Cleef & Arpels are each distinctive in their form, even though I used the same material, because this allows me to create different shapes for every letter. My creations are a nod to how communities in the past crafted all sorts of things from palm fronds. I followed the same process that our ancestors used to manipulate the fronds and applied it to create the calligraphy designs.
How does your practice blend with Van Cleef & Arpels commitment to craftsmanship?
My journey as a calligrapher and artist closely resembles the jewellery design process. For example, carefully selecting the right design, going through various processes, this is also a dedication to craftsmanship. For me, Van Cleef & Arpels Perlée collection prompted me to think how these aspects merge in my calligraphy. For the collaboration, I created a unique approach that brings together the elegance of calligraphy and jewellery.
