The federal culture minister, S.K. Tressler, inaugurated the event at the National Art Gallery in F-7/4. A large number of art connoisseurs, artists and other people were present on the occasion.
The minister appreciated the exhibits and commended the artists and organizers for showing immense patience and hard work in holding the show.
Earlier, Uxi Mufti, who had curated the exhibition, said the holding of the event proved to be a unique experience for the PNCA staff.
He said, “the show was special in the sense that it related to our own cultural traditions and the exhibits took birth in our own soil”. He saw in the works of calligraphy varied efforts to modernize art in an innovative way. He paid tributes to the artists who produced the unique specimens of various scripts in a splendid manner.
Mr Mufti expressed the hope that the PNCA would organize an international exhibition of calligraphy.
Speaking on the occasion, the PNCA director general, Raja Changez Sultan, touched upon the dimensions of calligraphy and its advent in the country.
The exhibition features works of innovators of modern calligraphy like Hanif Ramay and Gulgee. Mr Ramay made new experiments in his works and attained a distinguished style.
Peshawar-born artist Gulgee offers an example of continuing dialogue between Western and oriental traditions with a new-found elegance that transcends beyond traditions. His calligraphies in western idiom are works of expressionism.
His son Amin Gulgee takes a new plunge in calligraphy and uses metal to gain powerful and telling expression. He has displayed his works in Washington, New York, Boston and Middle East.
Another artist whose works bewitched the viewers is Ahmed Khan. He graduated from National College of Arts, Lahore, and secured “Kipling Award”.
Over the years, he has made murals, monuments and environmental sculptures. In 1984, he obtained first prize in sculpture and in 1987 he was the winner of painting competition. He also received Shakir Ali award in 1996.
Works of several traditional calligraphers have also been put on display. Among them are Mohammad Elahi Bux, Mattee and Abdul Rashid Butt, who has made his mark in Kufic style.
Also on display are the works of Shafiq Farooqui, Syed Najamul Hasan Kazmi, Aftab Ahmad, Aslam Kamal, Mehboob Ali, Ghulam Fakhuruddin ibne Abid, Riffat Jabeen Babri, Aftab Zafar, Abdul Wahid Nadirul Qalam, Salim bin Zareen Raqam, Shakil Ismail, Saima Rashid and Ibne Kaleem.
Works of calendar and truck art are also part of the event. truck art. Uxi Mufti has also displayed his calligraphic pieces done in stone carving, wood, and enamelled tile work, Kashi Kari. Gold and silver thread embroidery, also called Zaree work, has also been exhibited.
The PNCA has organized the exhibition in collaboration with the private sector art galleries of Islamabad. The event will continue till December 20 from 9am to 4pm daily.
Afterwards, the exhibition will be held at Peshawar.