Calligraphy exhibition concludes

The event aimed to promote the art and encourage budding artists

ISLAMABAD: The exhibition of traditional Islamic calligraphy concluded on Monday at Lok Virsa.

The exhibition was a calligraphic competition-cum-exhibition, featuring works of both renowned and budding artists. The contestants – including students from various art councils, universities and colleges – were provided a chance to display their skills along with noted calligraphists.

Executive Director Lok Virsa Khalid Javaid said, “Pakistan has a deep and historic background of beautiful calligraphic traditions, which needs to be projected.” He added this interaction among the renowned and upcoming calligraphists will continue in future, which would ultimately result in further promotion of this particular art.

Javaid said that in order to ensure nation-wide participation and equal opportunity to all budding artists, Lok Virsa announced an open invitation to all artists in the country. “This has been done with a view to encourage the upcoming artists so they should not only feel pride in practicing their art but also create new innovations in it by learning from their seniors,” he added.

Asif Javaid Shahjahan, who is the director of the Heritage Museum at Lok Virsa and designed the exhibition, said that calligraphy has a very special place in Islam because it relates to Quranic revelation.

The eminent calligraphists whose masterpieces were on display in the exhibition included Rasheed Butt, Aftab Ahmad Khan, Elahi Buksh Matee, Imran Tahir, Muhammad Azeem Iqbal, Khawaja Muhammad Hussain, Abdul Rehman Tabani and Aftab Ahmad Changezi.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2010.