ISLAMABAD: An exhibition of Islamic calligraphic works by Ruheena Malik opened at National Art Gallery (NAG) on Thursday.
As many as 50 calligraphic pieces including wooden objects, frames, boxes, candle stands and paintings are on display.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman inaugurated the exhibition titled ‘Treasures of Islamic Art’.
Rehman while acknowledging the talent of Malik said the government was committed to showcase the soft image of Pakistan abroad through its rich cultural values.
Malik, a Karachi-based artist, has focused on reviving the traditional art of calligraphy. With the combination of dull and bright colours to capture the attention of art lovers, Malik has artistically preferred dazzling crimson and purple to revive the spirit of Mughal era. She has used gold and semi-precious stones in her works to make them more valuable.
Writing with the fluency of a ‘khataat’, Malik has composed Quranic verses with the sensibility of an artist. Fusing the craft of writing with the art of design, she has glorified the written words as an object of beauty. Legible and free from bizarre stylization, her scripts resembled the established forms of Islamic calligraphy like ‘Kufic’, ‘Naskhi’, ‘Thulth’ or ‘Nastaleek’.
Born of mixed parentage, Malik spent quite a time in Europe and returned to Pakistan in 1996. Not only the much read ‘Kalima,’ ‘Quls’ and ‘Darood Sharif’, but also lengthy passages of ‘Surah-e-Rehman,’ ‘Surah-e-Baqara’ and ‘Surah-e-Yaseen’ had been dealt wonderfully with balance and accurate writing by the artist without diverting from the original form. She has used the medium and techniques of wood carving in relief, coloured inks and gold on paper with antiques frame over 100 years old, and calligraphy with brush on paper.
Talking to Daily Times, Malik said she had produced contemporary compositions of Quranic verses, making elaborate use of seals, stamps, dividers, ascenders, ornamental panels and other embellished patterns to illuminate the pages with a specific palette centered on shades of red, blue and gold.
“A novel feature of my recent works is the melding of art and craft. The intricate patterns are stressing well on minute details through vibrant colours, linking past to the present,” she said.
Enhancing the beauty of calligraphy with intricate work, Malik has framed her calligraphies in pieces of antique woodcraft. Foraged from the ‘havelis’ in interior Sindh, exquisitely carved, chiseled and engraved doors, panels, pillars and beams case her ornamental writings further enrich and gave a deeper dimension to the text.
Another step towards embellishment of the script was the engraving of her calligraphy designs on old chests, tabletops, ‘rehals’, candle-stands, mirror frames and other such articles of house decor. She has brought forth her own interpretation of reverential awe she has for the written word.
Malik has held exhibitions of her works in Karachi, Lahore and abroad in the French capital, Paris, while this was her first solo exhibition in Islamabad. Her works also featured in the grand calligraphy exhibition ‘Kalam’ at Mohatta palace Museum some years ago.
The exhibition will remain open till September 30.
Ruheena’s ‘Treasures of Islamic Art’ on display at NAG
ISLAMABAD: An exhibition of Islamic calligraphic works by Ruheena Malik opened at National Art Gallery (NAG) on Thursday.
As many as 50 calligraphic pieces including wooden objects, frames, boxes, candle stands and paintings are on display.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman inaugurated the exhibition titled ‘Treasures of Islamic Art’.
Rehman while acknowledging the talent of Malik said the government was committed to showcase the soft image of Pakistan abroad through its rich cultural values.
Malik, a Karachi-based artist, has focused on reviving the traditional art of calligraphy. With the combination of dull and bright colours to capture the attention of art lovers, Malik has artistically preferred dazzling crimson and purple to revive the spirit of Mughal era. She has used gold and semi-precious stones in her works to make them more valuable.
Writing with the fluency of a ‘khataat’, Malik has composed Quranic verses with the sensibility of an artist. Fusing the craft of writing with the art of design, she has glorified the written words as an object of beauty. Legible and free from bizarre stylization, her scripts resembled the established forms of Islamic calligraphy like ‘Kufic’, ‘Naskhi’, ‘Thulth’ or ‘Nastaleek’.
Born of mixed parentage, Malik spent quite a time in Europe and returned to Pakistan in 1996. Not only the much read ‘Kalima,’ ‘Quls’ and ‘Darood Sharif’, but also lengthy passages of ‘Surah-e-Rehman,’ ‘Surah-e-Baqara’ and ‘Surah-e-Yaseen’ had been dealt wonderfully with balance and accurate writing by the artist without diverting from the original form. She has used the medium and techniques of wood carving in relief, coloured inks and gold on paper with antiques frame over 100 years old, and calligraphy with brush on paper.
Talking to Daily Times, Malik said she had produced contemporary compositions of Quranic verses, making elaborate use of seals, stamps, dividers, ascenders, ornamental panels and other embellished patterns to illuminate the pages with a specific palette centered on shades of red, blue and gold.
“A novel feature of my recent works is the melding of art and craft. The intricate patterns are stressing well on minute details through vibrant colours, linking past to the present,” she said.
Enhancing the beauty of calligraphy with intricate work, Malik has framed her calligraphies in pieces of antique woodcraft. Foraged from the ‘havelis’ in interior Sindh, exquisitely carved, chiseled and engraved doors, panels, pillars and beams case her ornamental writings further enrich and gave a deeper dimension to the text.
Another step towards embellishment of the script was the engraving of her calligraphy designs on old chests, tabletops, ‘rehals’, candle-stands, mirror frames and other such articles of house decor. She has brought forth her own interpretation of reverential awe she has for the written word.
Malik has held exhibitions of her works in Karachi, Lahore and abroad in the French capital, Paris, while this was her first solo exhibition in Islamabad. Her works also featured in the grand calligraphy exhibition ‘Kalam’ at Mohatta palace Museum some years ago.
The exhibition will remain open till September 30.
ISLAMABAD: An exhibition of Islamic calligraphic works by Ruheena Malik opened at National Art Gallery (NAG) on Thursday.
As many as 50 calligraphic pieces including wooden objects, frames, boxes, candle stands and paintings are on display.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman inaugurated the exhibition titled ‘Treasures of Islamic Art’.
Rehman while acknowledging the talent of Malik said the government was committed to showcase the soft image of Pakistan abroad through its rich cultural values.
Malik, a Karachi-based artist, has focused on reviving the traditional art of calligraphy. With the combination of dull and bright colours to capture the attention of art lovers, Malik has artistically preferred dazzling crimson and purple to revive the spirit of Mughal era. She has used gold and semi-precious stones in her works to make them more valuable.
Writing with the fluency of a ‘khataat’, Malik has composed Quranic verses with the sensibility of an artist. Fusing the craft of writing with the art of design, she has glorified the written words as an object of beauty. Legible and free from bizarre stylization, her scripts resembled the established forms of Islamic calligraphy like ‘Kufic’, ‘Naskhi’, ‘Thulth’ or ‘Nastaleek’.
Born of mixed parentage, Malik spent quite a time in Europe and returned to Pakistan in 1996. Not only the much read ‘Kalima,’ ‘Quls’ and ‘Darood Sharif’, but also lengthy passages of ‘Surah-e-Rehman,’ ‘Surah-e-Baqara’ and ‘Surah-e-Yaseen’ had been dealt wonderfully with balance and accurate writing by the artist without diverting from the original form. She has used the medium and techniques of wood carving in relief, coloured inks and gold on paper with antiques frame over 100 years old, and calligraphy with brush on paper.
Talking to Daily Times, Malik said she had produced contemporary compositions of Quranic verses, making elaborate use of seals, stamps, dividers, ascenders, ornamental panels and other embellished patterns to illuminate the pages with a specific palette centered on shades of red, blue and gold.
“A novel feature of my recent works is the melding of art and craft. The intricate patterns are stressing well on minute details through vibrant colours, linking past to the present,” she said.
Enhancing the beauty of calligraphy with intricate work, Malik has framed her calligraphies in pieces of antique woodcraft. Foraged from the ‘havelis’ in interior Sindh, exquisitely carved, chiseled and engraved doors, panels, pillars and beams case her ornamental writings further enrich and gave a deeper dimension to the text.
Another step towards embellishment of the script was the engraving of her calligraphy designs on old chests, tabletops, ‘rehals’, candle-stands, mirror frames and other such articles of house decor. She has brought forth her own interpretation of reverential awe she has for the written word.
Malik has held exhibitions of her works in Karachi, Lahore and abroad in the French capital, Paris, while this was her first solo exhibition in Islamabad. Her works also featured in the grand calligraphy exhibition ‘Kalam’ at Mohatta palace Museum some years ago.
The exhibition will remain open till September 30.
