Episode 132

A Hidden Cave of Treasures with Calligraphy Artist Hussein Alazaat

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The Guardian of Culture

Hussein Alazaat is a renowned calligrapher, artist, and designer who lives and works in Amman, Jordan. 

Hussein is the founder of Elharf Studio, a platform showcasing rare books, design products, and sources of Arab visual inspiration. Most recently, Hussein worked on a project of re-designing the Jordanian currency.

Hussein also teaches calligraphy workshops and travelers joining my 10-day group trip to Jordan this May 2025 will be able to meet him in person. The trip is now open and you can get more details here.

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What you’ll learn in this episode:

  • The ancient civilization that made gods for people in the region

  • The origins of the world's first alphabet

  • Why Hussein is obsessed with coins

  • Why a letter is a universe in itself

  • How Hussein aims to preserve the vast trove of Arab cultural heritage

“Imagine if someone discovered a hidden cave with endless amounts and piles of jewelry and rare stones and rare gems. This is me. I’m standing over that cave. I'm at the door of this cave. I let people go inside and I give them tours of those treasures. And I'm so happy about this.”

— Hussein Alazaat

Elharf Studio

Hussein is the founder of Elharf Studio, a multi-disciplinary cultural platform and space in Amman. In this space, Hussein hosts a cultural intersection point for researchers and enthusiasts of Arab cultural identity. Elharf hosts a significant archive of books, publications, and references from which the community draws inspiration and knowledge. ELHARF also runs diverse educational and training programs, including calligraphy courses and workshops, all centered around Arabia and its visual and theoretical concepts.

Learn more about Elharf here.

Featured on the Show

Hussein Alazaat

“I feel all the time that I have this responsibility over my shoulders to preserve the culture.”

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