Calligraphy and fresco exhibition: NCA graduates to showcase work

“Calligraphy transforms text into a decorative form with an aesthetic appeal,” says Suhail.

LAHORE:

Calligraphy and fresco paintings by the graduates of National College of Arts (NCA) will go on display here at the Alhamra Art Gallery from June 10 to June 15.

Bashir Ahmed, a lecturer at the NCA, told The Express Tribune, “We have been displaying the work of our graduates every year at Alhamra to encourage the young and upcoming calligraphy and fresco artists.”

Tanya Suhail, the gallery curator, said that the exhibition’s aim was to support the “declining art of calligraphy in the region.” She said Arabic script had the demonstrated potential to be converted into ornaments through calligraphy. She said, “Calligraphy transforms text into a decorative form with an aesthetic appeal.” Artist Quddus Mirza said he was looking forward to the exhibition. He said calligraphy was more than art. “It is a way of approaching and capturing beauty…which is a manifestation of the ideal realm,” he said. “Calligraphy has been used for political agendas and commercial purposes…we need to liberate this great abstract art,” he said.

The students whose theses and class assignments will be displayed include Dr Afshan, Haleem Amjad, Maha Malik, Mariyum Saeed, Muhammad Usman, Hina Afzal, Lubna Bashir, Qurutulain Ejaz, Shabana Nazir, Zainul Sehar and Sumbal Ihsan. Mian Ejazul Hassan, the Punjab Artist Association’s chairman, will inaugurate the exhibition.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2013.