The worlds' most skilled, respected and celebrated calligraphers' works are like a journey of the mystic who aspires for a union with the beloved Divine source. The calligraphic works represents a spiritual reflection of the creative power of the great painters. Every work of calligraphic art is a spiritual connection, be it in any shape or script.
Following the skilled and celebrated calligraphers Ali Baba Awrang's calligraphic works at Chawkandi Art Gallery, Karachi comprised Quranic verses in Arabic as well as excerpts of the poems of Qambar Ali Tabish, Mohtasham Kashani and Bidil Dehlawy in Persian.
Ali used rapid strokes in Nastaliq script to create beauty in the artwork. In one of the calligraphic works a circular pattern was used as a focal point as everything seems to emanate from and converge on this point. The artist's mystic inclinations appeared to surface through such works. All the works appeared to be designed on set proportions.
The beauty of the works was brought out by using festive colours in some works while others were so simple that only words were written in Nastaliq style without embellishing the work with colours. This simplistic style also attracted the viewers as it was discernable and pleasing to look at.
Thus with a strong aesthetic appeal, brilliant use of colours and a balance between design and form, the art of calligraphy created an immediate visual impact.
In our country a misconception about calligraphy is that only Holy Quranic verses can be used as a calligraphic work. But Ali has used Persian poetry in his works in a calligraphic style.
The works appeared in various shapes, highlighted by bright colours such as red, orange, green, blue, ochre, cloudy white that was eye catching with the glitter of silver that enriched the artworks with an artistic beauty.
The calligraphic works by Ali were more modern in approach as he has given more attention towards painterly calligraphy rather traditional one. He seemed to be influenced by calligraphic work done in other countries of the world and therefore painting the words freely and creatively although in Nastaliq script without strictly following the traditional rules but of course this type of calligraphic work is governed by the principles of balance and proportion and rhythm.
He inserted and interwoven geometric and mathematical designs with the words of the Holy Quran and poetry as well. The overlapping of words and phrases created a twisted look of the works making it impossible sometimes to read the words clearly. This style of intertwining words gave his works a different appearance. Although he used different techniques and styles the artworks has an aesthetic appeal.
Like other calligraphers of the world Ali used the same arcs and loops, ovals and circles, vertical and horizontal lines that are used as designs world over. The basic geometrical forms remain the same in all works of artists. They choose the most appropriate form they like to use in their calligraphic paintings. Basically Islamic calligraphy is associated with geometric art.
Calligraphy is an ancient type of visual art. While Islamic calligraphy is our religious as well as cultural heritage. The art of calligraphy gives a message of peace, love and brotherhood among the Muslim World.
In his recent calligraphic works Ali continues to create in the form of modern calligraphy. Modern calligraphy ranges from functional hand-lettered inscriptions and designs to fine-art pieces where the abstract expression of the handwritten mark may or may not compromise the legibility of the letters.
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