Tareq Rajab Calligraphy Museum, Kuwait City
During his tenure as the first Director of the Department of Museums and Antiquities, Tareq Rajab saw an opportunity to increase public access to culture and heritage in Kuwait City through private patronage. Together with his wife Jehan, he rose to the challenge. The couple devoted much of their lives to travelling the Islamic world in order to build a collection that could be displayed in two eponymous museums. It is no exaggeration to say that as a result, there are objects on display in abundance. The institution’s mantra could well be more is more.
The Calligraphy Museum can be found in the suburbs of Kuwait City hidden behind the façade of what otherwise looks like an unremarkable domestic villa; an impression that reinforces its being the outcome of private patronage rather than public decree.
Once inside, the initial impact can be overwhelming with objects occupying every square inch of wall space, but in the absence of interpretation, the visitor is then free to wander, following their own momentum. The curls and swirls of Islamic calligraphy are inherently alluring, and as another object catches your eye, you are led on and around the spaces. For those with no Arabic, it is essentially a formal visual experience, but the craftsmanship of many of the objects is easily appreciated. The various sections of the Kiswah on display are particularly memorable.
It no doubt would have been a grand experience being led around this very personal museum by the patrons themselves, with tales of discovery and explanation being shared. An experience that is sadly no longer possible.
Address Jabriya, Block 12, Street 1, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Opening hours Saturday to Thursday 0900-1200, and 1600-1900; Friday 0900-1200