Name: Joumana Medlej
Location: London
Birth date: 1979
Contact: Joumana@majnouna.com
07 900484609
Web: http://majnouna.com
Bio:
Joumana Medlej was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. A graphic designer by
training, with experience in print and multimedia, Joumana long craved for more
meaningful expressions of creativity. She received the essence of Kufic script, the
first Arabic script to be made consciously beautiful, from master calligrapher
Samir Sayegh, through years of close collaboration. She learned to breathe new
life into a traditional art, not merely copying or reviving its old forms but finding
a contemporary language for it. She’s especially interested in the unique
relationship between Kufic and geometry, both sacred arts. Her work is less
about personal expression than about revealing hidden order, and the power of
this medium where form and meaning are one.
Joumana now lives in London where her journey with Kufic is ongoing. She pairs
it with a quest for expressivity in materials, bringing together the ancient,
alchemical methods of hand-grinding pigments with the potential of modern
laser-cutting. Her work is found in private and public collections in the UK and
the Middle-East. She also teaches at the Arab British Centre and gives workshops
in various schools and universities.
"One of the fundamental conditions of happiness is to know that everything that one
does has a meaning in eternity" - Titus Burckhardt
Professional Experience
(selected)
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Calligraphy workshops at Badr International Study Centre and University
of Manchester since 2014
Design and making of BBC Arabic Aan Korb awards, October 2014
Tutor, Creative Calligraphy, Arab British Centre since April 2014
Contributor, Tuts+ online courses since 2013.
Assistant to master calligrapher Samir Sayegh, 2007-2012, including
work for the Royal Hashemite Court and collaboration with the Sharjah
Biennale.
Senior art director, Concept artist, Game designer for Quirkat, 2007-2012
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Storyboards and illustration work for H&C Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi,
other ad agencies, 2001-2012
Author, illustrator and publisher of the graphic novel Malaak: Angel of
Peace since 2006, and the comic strip Driving in Lebanon.
Co-author, illustrator and translator for a series of educational children's
books, Lebanese Heritage (13 titles in French and English)
Assistant professor, Computer Animation, AUB fall '02-03
Future TV Animation Department and Zen TV Public Awareness
Campaign, 2001-2002
Freelance writer (French and English) and photographer Femme
Magazine, Noun, The Daily Star, other publications, 2000-2010
Illustration and layout of schoolbooks for Sabis International Charter
School, 2001-2003
Education
Diploma in Traditional Arts (Islamic Manuscript Illumination, Alchemy of Paint,
Geometry and World Art, Icon Painting of the Prosopon School, Art of Egg
Painting and Gilding) from the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, 2013.
BGD (Bachelors of Graphic Design), American University of Beirut, 2001
(A four year program studying experimental methodologies in graphic and
communication design. Areas of emphasis: graphic and communication design,
publications, packaging, corporate identity, retail design, illustration, animation,
typography (Latin/Arabic), interactive and web design.)
Features, Achievements, Exhibitions
Exhibits:
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Sharjah Art Museum’s 5th Summer Art Festival, 2014
Kuwait’s 6th International Islamic Arts Convention, 2013-14
Art•Marylebone Art Fair, London, 2013
Maktoob: Contemporary Calligraphy exhibit, Maasser Beiteddine,
Lebanon, 2012
Pages exhibited at the Lucca Comics festival, 2010
Pages exhibited at the Metropolitan Hotel, Beirut, 2010
Photography exhibit in Art Lounge, 2006
Art exhibit in ADG, Gemmayze, 2005.
Art exhibit in Salon-de-Provence, France, December 2004.
Art exhibit in the Jounieh Municipality, November 2004.
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Art exhibit in JABAL, Musée Paul Guiragossian, November 2004.
Art exhibit in ADG, Gemmayze, 2004.
Private art exhibit in Tokyo, 2004.
Guest speaker at:
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Festival d'Angoulême, 2013
The Hay Festival, 2012
Festival International de Bande Dessinée d'Algérie, 2011
Festival de Bande Dessinée de Yerevan, 2010
Geekfest Dubai 2011
Pecha Kucha 2010
United Nations - ESCWA Workshop on Delivery of E-Services in Civil
Society, 2009
Work appeared in the following publications since 1999:
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Lebanon: Lebanon Traveler, RAGMAG, Absolute Beirut, an-Nahar, Noun,
NOW Lebanon, Sayidaty, Alinea, L'Orient-Le Jour, Lebrecord.com, Al
Anwar, Aïshti Magazine, Cedarwings, Femme Magazine
International: ArabLondon.com, techofheart.co, KULCHA magazine, Gulf
Life Magazine, El Bendir (Algeria), El Watan (Algiers), Libano em Revista
(Brazil), babelMed.net, Nox, Designers' Desktop 3 (Japan), Academix
(Canada), Elle Oriental, El Mundo (Spain), Idées de Cadre (France), Kul al
'Usra (UAE), MacLife (Germany), Websites 100% loaded (published by
Feierabend), MacPeople Japan, Mac Fan (Japan)
TV appearances since 2001:
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Lebanon: al-Hurra (al-Yawm), Mtv, LBC (Bi Beirut, Helwe w Murra,
Naharkom Sa3eed, Eich Toumouhatak, Tea Time), New TV (Nataloo), Orbit
(Uyoun Beirut), Zen TV (Dardashat)
International: Medi1Sat, U.S. National Public Radio (The World)