In order not to let the centuries old tradition of Islamic calligraphy fade into oblivion, the Louvre Gallery is all set to hold an exhibition today (Thursday). The organisers have arranged the event while keeping in mind the sanctity of Muharram.
The exhibition will be featuring the works of various artists from all over the country, featuring different styles of calligraphy done in different mediums. Alina, the curator and owner of Louvre Gallery, told this scribe that the administration was trying its best to promote all kinds of visual arts, especially the calligraphy.
“In almost all Muslim societies, almost every household is decorated with some kind of Islamic calligraphies, featuring different verses from the Holy Quran. Here in Islamabad, we are just trying to offer a wide variety of the art and giving people a chance to learn from masters like Ahmed Khan,” she added.
The art of calligraphy dates back to a period when the writing began. It is a type of visual art which is often called as the art of fancy lettering. A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is “the art of giving a form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skilful manner”.
Alina said further that the artists whose works were being displayed include Ahmed Khan, MA Bukhari, Bushra Zeeshan, Rashid Ali, Javed Qamar, Warqar, Bashir and Arif Khan.
Ahmed Khan is a distinguished artist and educationist, the work of Ahmed Khan is celebrated for the luminous paintings, in which a traditional interpretation of line and form are reassessed as calligraphic design. The gestural beauty of line is translated by the artist into an exciting contemporary personal expression assimilating a unique and complex process. The exhibition is also showcasing the acrylic-on-canvas works of M A Bukhari. Bukhari has calligraphed ninety nine names of Allah under different traditions of the art. In his works, Bukhari describes beauty through painting techniques and blends magnificently the modern art blended with cultural and religious values. He is known for his large canvases, broad strokes and vibrant and lively colours, which signify his creativity as well as aesthetic sensibilities. The artist uses the paint generously, applying it in thick layers with an abandon that is eye-catching and bewildering at the same time.
Among new artists, Bushra Zeeshan is showcasing her work in both acrylic and oil including Kufic calligraphies. Zeeshan’s works are elegant and done in uniform script-styled calligraphy in which the borders contain details with delicate patterns which provide a perfect balance to the strong fonts employed. Her work is a combination of square and angular lines on one hand, and compact bold circular forms on the other hand. The vertical strokes are short, while the horizontal strokes were long and extended.
What is very refreshing and becoming about her work is the use of standalone colours, their consistency and smooth flow. Apart from Bushra’s work, the remaining calligraphies are in a cursive script that dates back to the early Muslim era. Then there is the work of Rashid Ali, a graduate of Mashkoor School of Art. Ali is known for his palette knife work pigeons also made an appearance with his calligraphies of Thuluth font.
His colourful backgrounds and knife execution is definitely a new to the capital. His medium is oil-on-canvas, and his work involves large canvases. He mostly uses single words which have a very impressive finishing. Another artist being featured in the exhibition is Javed Qamar, whose work can be described as calligraphy in an antique style.
