Beyond Words – Contemporary Calligraphy in the Middle East
Calligraphy is a form of art which adheres to firmly established rules. Bearing in mind the rigorous canon of calligraphy and the years of practise required in order to master it perfectly, it becomes obvious that not original creativity but rather the preservation of the classical rules was the foremost concern of this Islamic art form. In view of the strict rules of traditional calligraphy the scope for the development of personal ideas appears quite limited from the very outset. All the more astonishing then is the diversity exhibited by the works of contemporary modern calligraphers. Each of the artists has liberated himself in the course of his development from the background of classical calligraphy and found his own form of expression. The result are complex images of mystical power.
The works included in the exhibition give a first impression of the wide artistic range of contemporary calligraphy.
Copyright: Karin Adrian von Roques, 2008 |
