Hot Pink Shodo

I love that traditional calligraphy is being taken over by young girls. Here is an article on shodo (traditional Japanese calligraphy)

M. Zaki

Interesting program. Not quite sure how I feel about the fellow. listen here

Read IT!

Really interesting article. I found the descriptions of the tools particularly pleasing.  Copying the Koran, One Book at a Time

Came across this video it is on a website called nowness

This is interesting. President Obama comissioned Mohamed Zakariya to do a piece as a gift to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. Here is the article: Calligrapher comissioned by Obama
I also came across this: Linearis Institute. The website is nice to explore.

S

I like the splattering of the paint and the way the letters look like they are being blown by the wind. I wonder if it is supposed to be an 'S' or if it is just shaped like that. It is from a web site called hijabman. You can buy here.

Promised Pictures

Here are some scanned photos from the recent Calligraphy Biennale here in Doha. I will post the photos and then try to write something up about a few of my favorite pieces and the artists. Enjoy.

Love this one. I imagine this tree swaying in the wind with music coming from the branches.

 

Pasta and tin foil. Interesting. I wonder if the artist seached through a bag of pasta to find his letters or if he molded them into the letters he wanted.

hmmm. A boat. It made me think of the boat that Odysseus used to sail to the underworld.

The artist who did the letter 'noon' is acutally from Doha. Apparentley he has been working on this letter for the past 8 years. His inspiration comes from the fact that you can work on only one letter for a decade and still you are only touching the surface of that letter.

I like the Turkish style of illumination because it always feels light and clean like Spring.

This is my favorite. I love the bright colors he uses.