Explore the vibrant intersection where Arabic and Persian typography meet bold contemporary design.

Inner Structures – Outer Rhythms offers a glimpse into the dynamic graphic design scene of Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA), showcasing how innovative Arabic and Persian typography contribute to global visual culture. On display in the Rasheed Dhuka and Nooruddin Khawja Family Gallery, Atrium, and external façade of the Museum, the artworks bridge tradition and innovation, demonstrating the continuity of historic Islamic art in contemporary design.

Reimagining Tradition

This exhibition showcases how contemporary SWANA graphic designers reinterpret traditional scripts by drawing from art movements and popular culture. Their work reaches beyond the boundaries of calligraphic norms, introducing innovative typographic expressions that reflect the region’s evolving cultural and artistic landscape

Shared Script, Visual Rhythms

With 28 Arabic letters and four additional characters used in Persian, the shared system of writing forms a visual foundation that transcends borders, religions, and ethnicities across the SWANA region. It interacts with the region’s visual rhythms to form a cohesive design language rooted in shared heritage. In this space, typography becomes more than text, it visualizes the rhythms of Arabic and Persian music and the poetry of the languages. Through cultural commissions and global distribution, these designers share the stories and identities of the SWANA region with the world.

Inner Structures – Outer Rhythms offers visitors a glimpse into the dynamic visual culture of the region — from Beirut to Tehran, Cairo to Dubai — reshaping how we see and feel language.