Down in oil: Islamic calligraphy exhibit opens in city

Khana-e-Farhang, where the work is on display, expects hundreds to visit

PESHAWAR: After exhibiting work with a running motif of social problems, senior artist Jehanzeb Malik has unveiled his latest collection – Islamic calligraphy. The exhibition was held at Khana-e-Farhang in the city on Friday and will continue for two days.

“I have tried to keep it different from all other calligraphies,” Malik told The Express Tribune. He added the paintings have a linear element which goes both horizontal and vertical. Malik uses oil paints for his calligraphy.

He claimed his style has not been adopted by any artist in the city. However, calligraphy has strong roots in the Muslim world. Even in present times, artists from Iran produce prolific bodies of such work.

Khana-e-Farhang has played a vital role for calligraphy by training artists in the skill and other forms of artwork since some decades.

The artwork put on display by Malik is a collection of 99 names of Allah—all done in unconventional colours. Special arrangements were made by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Culture for the exhibition.

A different canvas

Malik is a senior artist in the province. His paintings depict the problems common people face; not the dark underbelly but the mundane tedium and obstacles of life.

The body of calligraphy took the efforts of several months before it could be put on display. Malik’s work has so far been displayed at several solo exhibitions at well-known galleries across the country.

The exhibition at Khana-e-Farhang is expected to be visited by hundreds of people as art exhibitions are a rarity in the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2016.