In honour of Ramadan, Van Cleef & Arpels turned to the respected Emirati calligraphist Amal Al Gurg to create an original piece that uses the rhythmic beauty of repetition found in the creation of a sukoon designed to suggest the radiant grace of the sun. 

Called Harmonious Silence, the artwork invites contemplation, forming an elegant visual entry point into a moment of reflection on concepts like unity, connectivity and renewal. 

Her attention to detail, her precision in the execution of the art piece, and her clear love of bringing beauty into the world dovetail perfectly with the core principles of Van Cleef & Arpels. 

Here, the artist unpacks her thinking behind the art piece and how collaborating with the high jewellery house has opened new horizons.

What inspired you to create Harmonious Silence? How does this artwork reflect the essence of Ramadan?

The sun, which signifies both the start and end of each day, felt like a perfect symbol to represent the essence of Ramadan. 

Considering that it is a time of fasting – when we refrain from food, drink, and other habits – the tranquil moments before dawn and dusk are when serenity truly settles in. I wanted to visually express the two core emotions of harmony and stillness that define Ramadan through something I cherish in my practice – language. I took the literal shape of the sun and the rounded form of the sukoon to create my own interpretation of the sun for Van Cleef & Arpels.

Your work beautifully blends tradition and modernity – how are you able to strike that balance in calligraphy?

I believe it comes with a lot of practice and attention to detail. Respecting both factors of tradition and modernity with their core elements is a major contributing factor to creating such works. Also, I think calligraphy has such versatility in its forms and styles that encourage the process.

The repetition of a round sukoon forms a radiant sun in your piece. Can you share the symbolism behind this design choice?

Honouring that moment of silence and stillness, or sukoon, the use of round sukoons to create the form of a radiant sun is a visual prompt. Harmony and stillness come with patience, which is a combined aspect of practising during both Ramadan and calligraphy.

This marks five years of Van Cleef & Arpels partnering with artists for Ramadan. What does it mean to you to be part of this tradition?

It’s an honour, really…a full-circle moment for me to have the opportunity to create something for this collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels, especially since both of my teachers have previously worked with the Maison.

What role does Arabic calligraphy play in modern art, and how do you see it evolving in luxury collaborations?

I believe it has come a long way and has a prominent role in modern art when the letter-forms are abstracted. I see it continuously evolving, especially with luxury collaborations when implemented correctly. There have been many successful examples of modernisation in design when using Arabic calligraphy. I’m excited to see what is yet to come.

How do you hope Harmonious Silence resonates with people during Ramadan?

The concept of reflections holds many profound meanings. Patterns of repetition and tessellation tend to draw the viewer in, encouraging a moment of inner reflection as they engage with the piece. For me, it evokes a feeling of calm and serenity, and that’s the experience I hope to share with others when they connect with my work. 

Instead of using calligraphy in its traditional form, I reinterpreted it in a modern, abstract manner, merging it with contemporary design elements to foster a visual conversation.