Islamic art through a Chinese lens

LAHORE:

Arabic calligraphy mixed with traditional Chinese style of writing was displayed at a session at the Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) on Saturday.

The session, titled Inked: The Beauty of Arabic Calligraphy in Chinese Tradition, featured Haji Noor Deen, a Chinese calligrapher who spoke on various calligraphy styles in Arabic and Chinese cultures. He also pointed to similarities between the two languages.

The Chinese artist said that his work highlighted the relationship between the two languages. “It depicts Islamic tradition of Chinese Muslims,” he said. Deen said he used traditional Arabic and Chinese calligraphy brushes for his art. Deen showed how he had portrayed Quranic verses and Chinese phrases associated with Islamic traditions.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2016.