Today, I’m sharing with you a conversation that is going to be quite different from anything we’ve done on the show to date. We’re going to do a studio visit to meet a dear friend, a renowned calligrapher, artist, and designer Hussein Alazaat who lives and works in Amman, Jordan.

Hussein is the founder of Elharf Studio, a platform showcasing rare books, design products, and sources of Arab visual inspiration. Most recently, Hussein worked on a project of re-designing the Jordanian currency.

Hussein also teaches calligraphy workshops and travelers joining my 10-day group trip to Jordan this May 2025 will be able to meet him in person. The trip is now open and you can get more details here.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

The ancient civilization that made gods for people in the region
The origins of the world's first alphabet
Why Hussein is obsessed with coins
Why a letter is a universe in itself
How Hussein aims to preserve the vast trove of Arab cultural heritage

Featured on the show:

Follow Hussein on Instagram: @hussein_alazaat
Follow Elharf on Instagram: @elharfhouse
Learn more about Hussein on his website
Check out the Beautiful Book Trove project
Read the article based on this interview, Guardian of Culture

Get more information at: Going Places website

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Going Places with Yulia Denisyuk is a show that sparks a better understanding of people and places near and far by fostering a space for real conversations to occur. Each week, we sit down with travelers, journalists, creators, and people living and working in destinations around the world. Hosted by Yulia Denisyuk, an award-winning travel journalist, photographer, and writer who's worked with National Geographic, The New York Times, BBC Travel, and more.

Learn more about our show at goingplacesmedia.com.