Mahmoud Taha (Arabic: محمود طه) (born 1942) is a Jordanian artist, potter and ceramicist noted for integrating calligraphy into his ceramics and is regarded as the leading ceramicist in the Arab world.
Mahmoud Taha was born in Jaffa in 1942. He studied at Baghdad Academy of Fine Arts where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968. He then went on to study calligraphy with the renowned calligrapher Mohammad Al-Hafez. He later continued his training in ceramics at Cardiff College of Arts in Wales, graduating in 1976.[1] On his return to Jordan, he established a studio specialising in ceramics, ceramic sculpture and calligraphy.[2]
In 1966, his arts professor, Kadhim Haydar, advised the young artist to use Arabic calligraphic elements in some of his works, since the professor had noticed Taha's talent for calligraphy. According to Taha, "this piece of advice opened the door to a new stage in my work, in which I experimented with the Kufic script of different historical periods... [and subsequently] Thuluth script and elements of Islamic ornamentation."[3] He is also credited with improving the writing and calligraphy skills of many students in Jordanian schools.
He has been described as the "leading ceramicist in the Arab world."[4] Taha became one of the first contemporary artists to use calligraphy as a graphic element in his work, and thus pioneered the Hurufiyah art movement which combines traditional art forms in innovative ways. His work has been described in the following terms; "Taha molds the clay of his native soil into full, smooth vessels that not only maintain an ancient tradition but also explores an innovative combination of textures, glazes and forms. In Taha's work, the viewer may trace the natural hues of his ancient heritage."[5]
Workedit
Taha produces small ceramic discs or plates as well as very large murals. His ceramic work is featured in the permanent collection of the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts in Amman and in the Majida Mouasher Collection, a collection devoted to contemporary artworks.
Selected exhibitions
The Right to Write, Jordan National Gallery, 1996
Contemporary Arab Artists, Darat Al Funun, 1997
Pioneers of Jordan, Darat Al Funun, 1999
Between Legend and Reality: Modern Art from the Arab World, Jordan National Art Gallery, 2002
Memory, Gallery of Cairo Amman Bank, 2008
The Tenth Maqama: Paper, Clay & Memory IV, Nabad Art Gallery, 2012 (solo exhibition)
Mahmoud Taha: Ceramicist, Cairo Amman Bank, 2013 (solo exhibition)
A Salute to Valantions, Orfali Gallery, Amman, 2013
Selected artworks
Nostalgia for Jerusalem, glazed ceramic, 60 X 84 cm, 1987 [6]
^Ali, W., Contemporary Art from the Islamic World, Scorpion Publishing, 1990
^Ali, W., Modern Islamic Art: Development and Continuity, University of Florida Press, 1997, p. 100
Further readingedit
Jonathan M. Bloom and Sheila S. Blair (eds), The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture, Volume 3, p. 363
Sheila S. Blair, Islamic Calligraphy, Edinburgh University Press, 2006
External linksedit
"Memory" exhibition in Jordan alert to the risks of Judaizing Jerusalem - aljazeera in arabic
December 15, 2023
mahmoud, taha, confused, with, mahmoud, mohamed, taha, arabic, محمود, طه, born, 1942, jordanian, artist, potter, ceramicist, noted, integrating, calligraphy, into, ceramics, regarded, leading, ceramicist, arab, world, born1942yazur, jaffa, mandatory, palestine. Not to be confused with Mahmoud Mohamed Taha Mahmoud Taha Arabic محمود طه born 1942 is a Jordanian artist potter and ceramicist noted for integrating calligraphy into his ceramics and is regarded as the leading ceramicist in the Arab world Mahmoud TahaMahmoud TahaBorn1942Yazur Jaffa Mandatory PalestineNationalityJordanianEducationBaghdad Academy of Fine Arts 1968 Cardiff College of Arts Wales 1976 Known forCeramicist potter and calligrapherMovementHurufiyya movementWebsitehttp www mahmoudtaha com Contents 1 Life and career 2 Work 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksLife and career editMahmoud Taha was born in Jaffa in 1942 He studied at Baghdad Academy of Fine Arts where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968 He then went on to study calligraphy with the renowned calligrapher Mohammad Al Hafez He later continued his training in ceramics at Cardiff College of Arts in Wales graduating in 1976 1 On his return to Jordan he established a studio specialising in ceramics ceramic sculpture and calligraphy 2 In 1966 his arts professor Kadhim Haydar advised the young artist to use Arabic calligraphic elements in some of his works since the professor had noticed Taha s talent for calligraphy According to Taha this piece of advice opened the door to a new stage in my work in which I experimented with the Kufic script of different historical periods and subsequently Thuluth script and elements of Islamic ornamentation 3 He is also credited with improving the writing and calligraphy skills of many students in Jordanian schools He has been described as the leading ceramicist in the Arab world 4 Taha became one of the first contemporary artists to use calligraphy as a graphic element in his work and thus pioneered the Hurufiyah art movement which combines traditional art forms in innovative ways His work has been described in the following terms Taha molds the clay of his native soil into full smooth vessels that not only maintain an ancient tradition but also explores an innovative combination of textures glazes and forms In Taha s work the viewer may trace the natural hues of his ancient heritage 5 Work editTaha produces small ceramic discs or plates as well as very large murals His ceramic work is featured in the permanent collection of the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts in Amman and in the Majida Mouasher Collection a collection devoted to contemporary artworks Selected exhibitions The Right to Write Jordan National Gallery 1996 Contemporary Arab Artists Darat Al Funun 1997 Pioneers of Jordan Darat Al Funun 1999 Between Legend and Reality Modern Art from the Arab World Jordan National Art Gallery 2002 Memory Gallery of Cairo Amman Bank 2008 The Tenth Maqama Paper Clay amp Memory IV Nabad Art Gallery 2012 solo exhibition Mahmoud Taha Ceramicist Cairo Amman Bank 2013 solo exhibition A Salute to Valantions Orfali Gallery Amman 2013Selected artworks Nostalgia for Jerusalem glazed ceramic 60 X 84 cm 1987 6 The Matyr ceramic plate date unknown The Dome of the Rock date unknown Untitled Mural 1999See also editIslamic art Islamic calligraphy Jordanian art List of JordaniansReferences edit Zuhur S Colors of Enchantment Theater Dance Music and the Visual Arts of the Middle East American University in Cairo Press 2001 p 377 Lama N Pioneers of Jordan Mahmoud Taha Khalid Shoman Foundation Online http thekhalidshomanfoundation org main activit curentl mahmoud taha taha htm Taha M Biographical Notes cited on NABA Art Gallery Online http www nabadartgallery com q node 34 Lama N Pioneers of Jordan Mahmoud Taha Khalid Shoman Foundation Online http thekhalidshomanfoundation org main activit curentl mahmoud taha taha htm Teller M Jordan Rough Guides 2002 p 425 Ali W Contemporary Art from the Islamic World Scorpion Publishing 1990 Ali W Modern Islamic Art Development and Continuity University of Florida Press 1997 p 100Further reading editJonathan M Bloom and Sheila S Blair eds The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture Volume 3 p 363 Sheila S Blair Islamic Calligraphy Edinburgh University Press 2006External links edit Memory exhibition in Jordan alert to the risks of Judaizing Jerusalem aljazeera in arabic 1 Darat al Funun News amp Press Clips Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mahmoud Taha amp oldid 1176118358, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
