MK-52 | Kaamil A. Haider

MaanKaddare-52 (MK-52) is a contemporary reinterpretation of the Kaddare script, a writing system devised in 1952 by Hussein Sheikh Ahmed “Kaddare” for Somali-speaking communities. Although it was ultimately supplanted by a Latin-based orthography for economical and logistical reasons, this script offers a compelling alternative that remains unexplored.

As a designer, I am drawn to the formal qualities of its letterforms and their spatial relationships in width, height and depth. This research project carries both mechanical and philosophical perspectives. MK-52 departs from the tradition of proverbial wisdom (maah maah) to restore these distinctive glyphs and explores the creative possibilities that might have arisen from this unrealized typographic vision.

About the Artist:
Kaamil A. Haider is a visual artist, graphic designer, archivist, and public historian. Through his practices, he researches the nuanced relationships between objects, shared meanings, and the heritage of contemporary Somali art and design, with a particular focus on language and memory. Kaamil incorporates diverse cultural, archival, and oral references in his work.

He is the co-founder, co-director, and archivist of Soomaal House of Art, an artist-run organization and collective in Minneapolis. Kaamil holds a Master’s degree in Heritage Studies & Public History and a BFA in graphic design from the College of Design, University of Minnesota. He is the recipient of many awards and fellowships, including Jerome Foundation Fellow, HSPH Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellow, and McKnight Visual Artist Fellow. Kaamil currently teaches in the Department of Art and Design at Augsburg University.

Gallery Hours:
Check out @centurycollegeart on Instagram for updated hours and special event info.

The Exhibition and all related events are free and open to the public. Contact justin.allen@century.edu for inquiries about the exhibition or to set up showing outside of normal gallery hours.

Image: (Detail) Kaamil A. Haider