RAWALPINDI, Dec 24: An innovative young man of 32 years, Azeem Iqbal, is a gifted calligraphist. He works in diverse mediums like leather, wood, metal, stone, hand-made paper and bones using paints and mixed media, traditional qalam pen made from reed, and black ink for calligraphy.

A self-taught calligraphist, he has participated in several group and solo shows between 1997 to 2001. He has also organized shows in major cities of Pakistan. He has taken part in five international art exhibitions from 1998 to 2000.

In 1997, he drew a 50ft painting on calligraphy at National Art Gallery Islamabad. He has won several awards in calligraphy.

Azeem Iqbal said, “he has introduced a unique style called “Ahad-i-Nabwi(PBUH)”.

He claims to be the only person who has used all the calligraphic terms beginning from the period of Holy prophet Mohammad (PBUH) to the present era.

Azeem Iqbal basically works on leather and uses wide variety ranging from meticulously cured delicate white skin to chrome- tanned and lacquered thick rustic cowhide.

He also uses variety of materials for calligraphy such as metals: gold, silver, iron, lead and bamboo.

Azeem’s exhibition of calligraphy opened at Rawalpindi Arts Council on December 7 and will continue till January 7 next year.

He displayed over 75 works, of which, he sent 25 exhibits to Karachi for display. Presently there are 50 works on display at Rawalpindi Arts Council.

As yet, he has sold only one calligraphic work, on the promise of being paid later.

He uses Kufic, Naskh, Nastaliq, Tughra, Jalli, Reeka, Thullus and other scripts with ease.

He plans to take his calligraphic exhibition to London in collaboration with acting resident director Mr Shakil of Rawalpindi Arts Council next month.