Exploring visual arts: Calligraphy enthusiasts hone skills at PNCA workshop

Course focuses on traditional and contemporary techniques of traditional art.

ISLAMABAD: An ongoing calligraphy workshop at the National Art Gallery of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) aims to introduce the ancient skill to art lovers and amateur calligraphers.

Well-known calligraphist Nasir Khan Seemab is spearheading the workshop that focuses on various techniques of both traditional and contemporary calligraphy, right from preparation of inks to inscribing Arabic text on to paper. “I’m basically teaching the naskh technique, which we also find in religious scripts,” he said.

Seemab is guiding the class of young artists, students and professional through the tedious process to explore the field of visual arts. He has previously conducted a similar workshop at PNCA and has been practicing in the art form for the last 15 years. He has also taught at the National Language Promotion Department at the Muqtada Qaumi Zaban.



Lubna Khatoon, a lecturer of fine arts at the Fatima Jinnah Women University, is attending the workshop. “As a visual artist, I’ve been making miniatures and this workshop affords me a good opportunity to brush up my skills at calligraphy since the two forms go hand-in-hand. It is also a form of revival, a sort of going back to our traditions and a positive practice,” she said.

Another student, Asma Yousaf, who has had no prior training in the medium, dubbed it a learning experience. “It is both interesting and challenging to work on the khutoot,” she added. Yousaf holds a master’s degree in fine arts from University of the Punjab.

The class also comprises students of the National Council of the Arts as well as children who are attending summer camp at PNCA. The coursework includes basic training and practice of calligraphy, including traditional and contemporary techniques and drawing motifs with text through different sessions every day. The workshop will continue until July 21 daily from 9am to 12pm.

Meanwhile, PNCA is inviting calligraphy artists from all over the country to participate in the annual National Exhibition of Calligraphy 2014 scheduled for the end of the Ramazan.

According to the gallery guidelines, participating artists should send at least two of their fresh works with description of title, medium, size, price and curriculum vitae. The deadline for the entries to reach the Visual Art Division of the gallery is July 10.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2014.