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Designer Transforms Arabic Words into Illustrations of Their Literal Meanings

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Architect and graphic designer Mahmoud Tammam has translated his love of word manipulation into a delightful series celebrating language. Based in Alexandria, Egypt, the creative started the project as a “personal challenge.” He explains, “I manipulate Arabic words and transform them into their meaning, and I made a total of 40 illustrated words.” In addition, the pronunciation of these Arabic illustrated words is included on every picture to help you sound them out.

Using the Arabic characters, Tammam fashions their sloping curves and dots into the bodies of animals, pieces of fruit, and distant landscapes. His pictorial manipulations are seamless and elegant, fusing words and images so well that it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. This bridges the gap between language barriers—even if you can’t read the language, you can look at Tammam’s illustrations and instantly understand what you’re reading.

Don't know Arabic? No problem. Mahmoud Tammam has created a series of Arabic illustrated words that reveals their meaning.

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

 

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

 

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Arabic Illustrated Words Transform Language into Visual Meaning

Mahmoud Tammam: Behance | Facebook | Instagram
h/t: [Design TAXI]

All images via Mahmoud Tammam.

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
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