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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, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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