Aleksandar Stanković (50) from Niš is the only Arabic calligrapher in this area. He fell in love with Arabic countries and script as a child, and even though it is not his profession, he has been fluent in the language for 30 years. His love for beautiful writing came spontaneously after he started learning Arabic. Besides Arabic, he also practices Serbian and Latin calligraphy.

The Arabic language, which many consider difficult, Aleksandar began to learn on his own as a child.

„I first encountered this language as a child, at the age of 12 on vacation. I found a film canister for a camera. There was Arabic text on the label and it attracted me. I started copying what was written even though I had no prior knowledge of the language or knew the letters,“ Aleksandar tells us.

In Niš, where he lives, there are no study groups for Arabic language or schools for learning it. He managed to learn on his own.

„It is a gift from God. I was attracted by the beauty of those letters. Later, I met a boy whose father was from Syria, so he guided me a little in the secrets of those letters and their pronunciation,“ says Aleksandar.

The love for calligraphy developed during his language studies. He mastered this art on his own, facing problems such as obtaining suitable supplies.

„I made pens myself and practiced by copying texts from various magazines. There were moments when I wanted to give up, but now calligraphy is a part of me,“ emphasizes Aleksandar, adding that calligraphy has opened the doors to many exhibitions in the country and abroad, allowing him to meet various cultures.

He adds that it was not difficult for him to get used to writing from right to left like Arabs, but the bigger challenge was learning to read.

„There is a common belief that when you read Arabic text, you can only understand three-quarters, and the rest is a matter of interpretation. Arabic script does not have short vowels. They only write consonants. If someone who does not know Arabic reads a word, they can do it incorrectly. It could be said that you have to know every word by heart to be able to read it,“ he explains.

In addition to Arabic, he also writes Serbian, i.e., Cyrillic and Latin calligraphy. Special equipment is needed for this art.

„Brushes, steel pens, goose feathers can be used, depending on what is being written. For Arabic calligraphy, a reed pen or bamboo pen shaped in a special way is used. Special paper is also used,“ he explains, reminding that he organized the first exhibition of Arabic calligraphy in the history of Serbia in his hometown Niš. Ambassadors of Arabic countries opened the exhibition.

He has exhibited independently in other cities and participated in art colonies. He collaborated with the Egyptian embassy and was engaged in writing calligraphy at the residence of the Turkish ambassador in Belgrade.

The only one from Europe, he participated in an exhibition in Egypt and won an award competing against around 300 artists. Although he is not a trained artist, Aleksandar says that the greatest reward for him is the honor of participating in such events. With his perseverance, he became a member of the Association of Arabic Calligraphers.

„The Arabic language is beautiful, very difficult, but also the language with the most beautiful poetry, thanks to which I also won my wife,“ Aleksandar reveals.