Amin El Zeyat

As a child, art was a hobby, but I now realize it isn't a diversion but an effective tool for community development and promoting values of citizenship.

I am Amin El Zeyat, a visual artist and director of the Funoon Institute for Media and Culture.

I returned to Libya from Spain when I was seven. I remember being enticed by the handwriting of a Syrian classmate. I came home one day feeling low about mine and told my mother. She told me to observe his style and follow him. Gradually, my handwriting improved.

I regularly participated in school art competitions and activities during the early 2000s. I began exploring Arabic calligraphy books by availing my father's library, a doctorate in Andalusian literature.

I studied architecture in college. My professor asked me to draw shapes using letters. That's when I was introduced to calligraphy, and I delved deep into this emerging art form, even with the lack of basic materials.

In 2019, with fellow artists, Funoon Institute started. Successfully, we held 20 art projects spanning calligraphy and music. A recent workshop was on mural art, with 12 participants, and not limited to art; we dedicated a part of it to discussing freedom of expression, the power of art in driving change, and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Through Funoon, I launched and hosted the "Qandeel" podcast, a talk show exploring Libya’s creative scene, featuring cultural and artistic figures to encourage dialogue and reflection.

I oppose the idiom “a jack of all trades is a master of none.” I work in multiple fields, including calligraphy, which began as a hobby and evolved into a career. I understand why some people prefer to focus on one area to reach mastery, but for me, having diverse skills is vital, not to get discouraged by the low demand of a trade. My motto is: With a little knowledge and persistence, you can achieve anything.

With my diverse experience, from solo art to collective institutional work, I hope peace prevails in our country and that Libya will become a democratic state where everyone lives equally and lawfully.