Fatima Alketbi on Calligraphy, Heritage, and Van Cleef & Arpels

Emirati calligraphy artist Fatima Alketbi discusses her collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels, blending traditional materials with contemporary design. Her work draws from Emirati heritage, poetry, and family conversations, using materials like henna, sana'a (liquid perfume), neel (indigo), and Kohl Al Athmad. For the Van Cleef & Arpels collaboration, she incorporates palm fronds, echoing ancestral crafting techniques. Alketbi sees parallels between calligraphy and jewellery design, particularly inspired by the Perlée collection. She emphasizes innovation while preserving cultural roots, aiming to showcase Emirati culture in a modern light.