I didn't mean Arabic script (which is pretty normal; there are about 4 letter forms per character, but it's only a small factor more complex than latin). I meant the actual practice of Arabic calligraphy, where they use it to make pictures which are usually specific to the text. e.g. https://www.google.com/search?q=arabic+calligraphy&tbm=isch

This has about as much to do with normal Arabic script as the best illuminated manuscripts do with latin script.