eid mubarak

It’s (my kids’) exams week and I couldn’t find time to finish any of the features I had lined up. So for this week, I’m posting a work in progress. It may appear finished but it could use some tweaking, still.

This is a rotational amb, but I also have (which sadly I’ve yet to scan) a mirror amb done in the same font style. I based the font style on the graceful Arabic script. I will admit that I know very little of it but I’ve always been wowed by its smooth flowing strokes and its use in zoomorphic calligraphy.  Anyway, it seemed appropriate to try styling this word/phase this way.

The word/phrase is Eid Mubarak, Blessed Eid (feast) when translated. As today is Eid ul-Adha (recently a legal holiday in the Philippines), the greeting above seemed fitting. Eid Mubarak is the traditional greeting reserved for the Muslim feasts of  Eid ul-Adha and Eid ul-Fitr.

Before the coming of the Spaniards and Christianity the archipelago was ruled by various rival datus, rajahs and sultans and much of the southern kingdoms were already practicing Muslims by the 15th century. History tells of this being brought on by Indo-Malayan traders.

My intention to present it in a pseudo Arabic calligraphy may have rendered it quite difficult to decipher but I find looking at it pleasantly enjoyable. This is a work in progress, after all.

Keep tuned in for the updated version.