China has a long history of calligraphy. Another area that treasures a calligraphy tradition is the middle east. There, the ancient art is still practiced throughout the region. And a major calligraphy exhibition is held every other year in Sharjah in the Arabian Gulf. The biennial event consistently amazes people with its wide range of styles of writing and painting the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet.

Middle Easterners take a great interest in the art form, which is constantly evolving from the straight illustration using bamboo pen and paper. According to Farouq Haddad, a Syrian calligrapher, the modern style of calligraphy can only work if it is based on a thorough knowledge of the rules of classical writing.

Students from around the world come to Sharjah to learn the skill at the hands of a master, and it takes many years to become proficient. As the Iraqi calligrapher, Moussab Al Douiri says, calligraphy has created a new form of tourism and one that can benefit Sharjah.

The Emirate has a natural competitive advantage for this is where calligraphers from around the world have gathered, working quietly in their workshops... and producing complex, beautiful works.

It is a lengthy and costly business to produce a classical text illuminated in gold.

It's hard for most calligraphers to jump from using a single color ink on a pen... to a brush and a rainbow of colors. But in today's modern world, some calligraphers avoid that pitfall by using digitally produced letters.

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