Workshop: Children learn calligraphy

Renowned calligrapher Azeem Iqbal gives lesson in decorative writing

ISLAMABAD: Children have a very clear vision and are very uninhibited in their art, said Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) Director General Jamal Shah at a one-day calligraphy workshop by Azeem Iqbal held at National Art Gallery of the council on Thursday.

"Many artists have taken inspiration from children and one big example is Picasso for that matter" he said at the calligraphy workshop was specially arranged for the participants of two-month long summer art club.

More than 70 teenagers were participating in the two-month long children summer art camp at PNCA National Art Gallery 10. Jamal Shah said that the camp is in accordance with PNCA's vision to bring the creativity amongst the younger generation in front.

Renowned artist Azeem Iqbal is among those artists who introduced new techniques of art by using leather, wood, handmade paper, stones, copper and other traditional items. In 1997, he drew a 50ft painting on calligraphy at National Art Gallery Islamabad. He has won several awards in calligraphy.

Iqbal uses Kufic, Naskh, Nastaliq, Tughra, Jalli, Reeka, Thullus and other scripts with ease. Speaking on the occasion, he said that calligraphy, a centuries-old decorative ornamental handwriting art, hails from the Greek civilisation. The word `calligraphy' is a combination of two Greek words 'kalli' (beautiful) and 'graphia' (to write). Since the advent of Islam, its holy book, the Holy Quran, was written on different mediums.

Calligraphists of that era used many writing styles to transcribe the manuscript of the Holy Quran.

Since then, this particular art has associated itself with spirituality and is the most popular form of design arts in the Muslim world.

After acquiring the status of the noblest of all arts, it has been adorned on the ceiling, exterior, interior and domes of all famous mosques, shrines, buildings and monuments of religious importance in Islam.

Azeem's calligraphy stresses on the sacredness and spirit of the written word with subjective aesthetics in pure oriental tradition.

Using three-dimensional techniques in wood, metal, gold, silver and leather, Azeem creates his calligraphic works with an intense devotion, which goes beyond his passion play as an artist.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2018.