A Thousand Times No 2010

Bahia Shehab created ‘A Thousand Times No’ using calligraphy to explore the visual and conceptual possibilities of the Arabic word for “no.” The installation is a grid of transparent squares, each bearing a different stylized version of the word. It’s fascinating how Shehab takes a single word and transforms it into an almost infinite array of designs. Each mark, each curve, carries a certain weight, a certain refusal. I'm reminded of Sol LeWitt's wall drawings, but with a deeply personal and political twist. Look closely, and you’ll see that the black ink sits right on the surface, no attempt to disguise the hand that made them. Some marks are bold and assertive, others delicate and almost hesitant. The layering of the squares creates this shimmering effect, like a sea of dissent. It's a powerful statement about language, identity, and resistance. The work reminds me that art is a conversation that transcends time and place.