MUSCAT: Jordanian artist Marwan al Tawaha brings together heritage and contemporary expression in a distinctive artistic journey that highlights the beauty of Arabic calligraphy and Islamic ornamentation through ceramics. His work has earned him a strong presence across Arab art exhibitions and competitions.
Al Tawaha is among the artists who have contributed to reviving traditional fine arts through innovative approaches. His academic background in fine arts played a key role in shaping his artistic vision. He obtained a master’s degree in ceramics from Yarmouk University in 2014 and later served at the university’s Faculty of Fine Arts as a ceramics laboratory supervisor, where he trained students in the techniques of the craft.
His artistic style is marked by a seamless blend of authenticity and modernity. Drawing inspiration from Arab and Islamic heritage — including Arabic calligraphy, geometric patterns and historical architecture — he reinterprets these elements through contemporary forms, using both ceramic and sculptural techniques.
A defining feature of his work is the use of Arabic letters as visual elements that add both aesthetic and spiritual dimensions. Through three-dimensional compositions, the letters and surrounding decorative motifs evolve into sculptural forms, giving his pieces depth and presence.
Among his notable works is “Let Us Contemplate,” a circular ceramic sculpture enriched with calligraphic motifs and geometric patterns inspired by Islamic design. While rooted in tradition, the piece reflects a contemporary sensibility. The circular form, with neither beginning nor end, symbolises continuity and permanence — a concept central to the artist’s philosophy of connecting the past with the present.
In addition to ceramics as a primary medium, Al Tawaha employs diverse techniques in shaping, firing and treating clay. Notably, he uses coloured clay without glazing, creating a natural texture that enhances the intricate details of his compositions.
Committed to bringing Jordanian ceramic art to a wider audience, Al Tawaha has participated in exhibitions and competitions across several countries, including Germany, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. His achievements include winning the Best Artwork Award from Philadelphia University in 2019 for “Let Us Contemplate.” The same year, he received an international ceramics award in Italy.
His work “And Rely on the Living One Who Does Not Die” secured second place at the international “Art Without Borders” competition in Russia, where he demonstrated the expressive power of Arabic letters by transforming them into structural elements intertwined with architectural forms, reflecting the relationship between language and space.
Al Tawaha also represented the region at the World Cup for Arab Creators as Best Arab Visual Artist, while his piece “The Most Beautiful Names of God” won a competition organised by the Jordanian Arabic Language Academy on the centenary of the Jordanian state.
At the core of his artistic philosophy lies the belief that art is not merely aesthetic, but a vital means of preserving cultural identity and raising awareness of heritage. His works consistently draw on elements of Arab and Islamic culture — particularly the Arabic letter — which he views as possessing a unique visual energy that transcends its linguistic function to embody beauty and spirituality.
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