Symposium Research #4

Throughout my time searching for valuable demonstrations and tutorials for Persian Calligraphy, I have come to find that free resources are scarce. Although the video isn't technically Nas'Taliq, it provides a stroke-by-stroke view of the the characters and is quite useful for someone who is completely new to the world of Persian Calligraphy–such as myself.

OPAL Institute of Calligraphy & Fine Arts. (2019, April 03). Retrieved April 28, 2019, from                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_07J5Hy37yg&list=PLeoImUJ-c-td24Hqg-CqLxMB4-t-NhsNc

Symposium Visual #1

Considered to be the undisputed master of Nas'taliq, Mir Imad al-Hasani's works are highly renowned  in Iran.

"The Smithsonian invites visitors to use its online content for personal, educational and other non-commercial purposes." - The Smithsonian Institution

Nasta'liq: The Genius of Persian Calligraphy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://archive.asia.si.edu/explore/nastaliq/mir-imad-al-hasani.asp

Symposium Research #2

This is a great resource for understanding the tools and materials necessary in traditional Persian calligraphy.

The pen, or "qalam," is typically made of reed or bamboo. These woods are preferred over metal because of the natural flexibility they possess to allow a greater range of motion. The tip of the pen is carved with a small knife on a special cutting board, called a "makta."

Ink is typically black and made with soot, dissolved gum arabic, and water.

Although this calligraphy was typically made on papyrus or parchment, paper gradually became more typical after its introduction to the Middle East in the 10th century. Paper can be treated with dye and coated with a starch mixture called "ahar." Because the ink is water soluble, this process can make it easier to remove mistakes.

Calligraphy Qalam: An Introduction to Arabic, Persian and Ottoman Calligraphy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://calligraphyqalam.com/process/tools.html

Symposium Research #1

This website is a useful starting point for my research, providing good background knowledge of Persian calligraphy leading up to my focus point: Nas'taliq.

–Ancient–

• Ancient Persian calligraphy is believed to have been invented around 500 - 600 BC.

• Original had use for monument inscriptions (Achaemenid kings)

• Scripts contained horizontal, vertical, and diagonal characters, which were nail shaped. This calligraphy is called “Khat-e-Mikhi” in Farsi, or "script of nails."

–3rd Century CE–

• “Avestaaee” and “Pahlavits" scripts were created.

• Avestaaee was used for religious script and was written with a feather pen on sheets made from animal skins.

• Letters were not connected but rather written separately from right to left.

–7th Century CE–

• Persian initiation of Islam.

• Persia adapts Arabic alphabet to Farsi language, creating contemporary Farsi.

• Includes 32 Farsi letters.

–10th Century CE–

• Research study conducted by Ebn-e-Moqlah Beyzavi Shirazi, categorizing six major calligraphy styles. 

• Hassan Farsi Kateb invented "Ta'liq."

–14th Century CE–

• Nas'taliq: "Bride of Calligraphy scripts."

• Most popular contemporary style.

• Unlike other styles with strict rules for geographical shape, Nas’taliq follows "natural curves."

Hamed, P. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://persiancalligraphy.org/History-of-Calligraphy.html