Abstraction and Calligraphy

Published by Louvre Abu Dhabi in collaboration with France Museums and Centre Pompidou, this exhibition catalogue examines how certain 20th century artists strove to establish a new visual language by merging text and image. Largely in response to a rapidly changing society, these artists looked towards eastern traditions and broke away from figurative conventions. Following the development of abstraction and how artists were inspired by early forms of writing, particularly calligraphy, the book is a rare opportunity to explore the work of modern masters such as Henri Matisse, Paul Klee, Joan Miró, Lee Ufan, Dia Azzawi, Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock, alongside contemporary pieces and monumental calligraffiti by Mona Hatoum, eL Seed and Ghada Amer.