2012- 21st Annual NC State Undergraduate Research Symposium

Session Time : 4/10/12 12:15 PM - 4/10/12 1:30 PM

Content Area : Graphic Design

Poster Appointment: , -

Student Presenters :
Madiha S Malik Graphic Design

Mentors and/or Co-Authors :
Martha Scotford Graphic Design

Abstract Title : Glorifying the Holy Script: The Past and Present of Islamic Calligraphy and Typography

Abstract :
The art of Islamic calligraphy comes with years of practice, patience and knowledge of the language that derives from Arabic, known as the “mother of all languages.” The beauty of Islamic calligraphy is that it brings forth such a rich history, culture, and religion. A current question is whether the modern world of today is losing access to the authenticity of Islamic calligraphy as it might become a rare tradition. Speculative research on the history and traditions of Arabic calligraphy, as well as on the calligraphic letterforms in comparison to Arabic typographic letterforms, will allow for a better understanding of this question. When exploring the treasures of Islamic calligraphy, I was able to gather a comprehensive history of its evolution from origins in various areas of the Middle East. I became aware of the numerous styles of calligraphy that are not only exclusive to Arabic, but also to Persian, Urdu, and Turkish. Freydoun Naeymi-Rad is an Iranian calligrapher artist who studied the art of calligraphy with the great masters in Iran. He is presently in Raleigh, creating beautiful Persian calligraphy that reflects the poetry and religion of Iran. I was able to interview a Pakistani calligrapher from Virginia and attend a workshop in UNC Chapel Hill by another Iranian calligrapher, Dr. Mohammed Ali Bat-haee. Through interviewing these artistic individuals, I learned that the forms of handwritten calligraphy come straight from the heart, which is not as well expressed through the typography.