Kameel Hawa

B. 1947, Beirut

Kameel Hawa obtained a BA in political studies from the American University of Beirut in 1968. During his university years, Hawa's first foray into writing was a booklet on the nationwide student uprising of 1968. Despite having little or no formal education in the arts, he pursued design and painting through personal initiative. Following his graduation, he worked as a journalist for a few years. However, when the civil war erupted and disrupted his teaching position, he turned to painting extensively and held his inaugural solo exhibition at the Arab Cultural Club in 1978.

In the early 1980s, Hawa relocated to Saudi Arabia with his family and founded the graphic design company "Al Mohtaraf." It is widely believed that Al Mohtaraf had a significant impact on the design industry in the country and beyond. Over the years, Hawa delved into the design of Arabic fonts and pioneered what is now recognized as "word design."

About his Work

Kameel Hawa specializes in creating typographic sculptures, where he combines stainless steel with occasional red accents to depict the Arabic word "فن" (Fen – Art). Each sculpture features a unique geometric composition, and as viewers approach them, the artworks gradually reveal the legible form of the word.

Kameel Hawa

FEN – Typographic Sculpture, 2014

Stainless steel, 124 x 122 x 60 cm

Loan from the artist