This article first appeared in daily the
Nation, September 19, 2010 issue
Fine combination of traditional, abstract and contemporary arts
If the artists looked like their work, Hamid Iqbal would be instantly recognizable. Standing in the classroom in an institute of calligraphy, on the whiteboard with pen in his hand, in front of enthralled audience writing syllables, words and groups of words in different scripts, one after the other, in Nastaliq, Naskh, Sulus, Koofi, Diwani, his every performance was so perfect that it was painful to see them wiped off the board.
Throughout the Islamic history calligraphy has been the most honored of the fine arts. It forms the basis of our religious as well as cultural heritage. Calligraphy is such a deep source of aesthetic pleasure that it has been used at every occasion and on every article: coins and swords, guns and cannons, buildings and graveyard head-stones, royal ordinances, and even on the bed spreads. Muslim rulers have been the great admirers and patron of this ancient art.
Pakistan has produced great calligraphers like Taj Zarrien Raqam, Hafiz Sadeedi, Syed Anwar Hussain Nafees Raqam, Sadquain, Gulgee, and Hamid`s own father Ibne-Kaleem (Khattat Haft Qalam, Inventor of a new writing script "Khate Raana") and now Hamid Iqbal himself.
"I draw the inspiration from my father who has taught me to hold the pen, since I was a child. I started on the "takhtee" – useful but forgotten tool in this modern age - and now I write on everything from canvas to skins and also in digital formats,” says Hamid Iqbal. My experiments with forms and colors may have changed but my central urge remains unchanged,” he adds.
Hamid Iqbal was born in the family of Calligraphers in 1974. His father Hafiz Muhammad Iqbal commonly known as Ibn-e-Kaleem is a writer, an accomplished calligrapher and founder of new script "Khat-e-Raana." His grandfather Muhammad Hassan Khan Kaleem Raqam was renowned calligrapher and founder of Dabistan Faroogh-e-Khattati in Multan. His great grandfather Maulana Qaim-u-Din Khan Langah was also a celebrated Master of Art, one of whose masterpieces is Holy Qur’an now on display in the National Museum Karachi. No wonder Hamid Iqbal picked up different traditional as well as modern styles of calligraphy at an early age.
Hamid Iqbal has held various combined exhibitions of his work in different cities where his work has been loudly acclaimed. He has won many coveted prizes in National Calligraphy Competition held in the country. Has had been selected as a" Man of the year1998” by American Biography Institute (USA).
Hamid Iqbal is not only an artist but also a devoted and dedicated promoter of the fine art. He is regularly teaching in an art institute of fine arts and calligraphy and holds functions at his own studio to create awareness of the art among the people. He has taught a large number of talented young students interested in the art of calligraphy. He has also written three books about the techniques to improve the handwriting showing patterns and measurements of different styles.
Hamid Iqbal says, "Besides writing straight lines of Qur’anic and or poetic verses, he has designed beautiful compositions in the forms of circular, oval and oblong panels. The recent work of Hamid Iqbal is Al-Asma-ul-Husna (the names of Allah) rich digital format.
Hamid Iqbal has chosen Calligraphy as a career. He says the work of calligraphers should be coordinated, promoted and sponsored at national level. This noble art should be introduced as a separate subject in institutions like College of Home Economics and National College of Arts. The work of senior artists, this visible record of our heritage that shall always remain a beacon of guidance for the like minded new comers, should be preserved.
Related:
Hamid Iqbal Website, Khate-e-Ra’ana - calligraphy script invented by Ibn-e-Kaleem
Contact:
Hamid Iqbal
hamidsart@gmail.com
Phone numbers:
Land line: 061-6014668
Cell: 0300 -633 7467
Labels: Arts, Calligraphy, In Print, Nation, Painting
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:47 AM,
12 Comments:
-
At 2:39:00 PM,
Jalal HB said...
-
I commend Hamid Iqbal for his great calligraphic work. He also contributes to my calligraphy album on Flickr.
-
At 3:46:00 PM,
Marryam Chaudhry said...
-
Excellent Work Mashallah
-
At 4:53:00 PM,
hamid iqbal said...
-
Thanks for JalalHB And Marryam Choudhry !!!Your comments are source of encouragement for me.
-
At 8:43:00 AM,
said...
-
Do you plan to display your work in Lahore? Let us know please.
-
At 8:15:00 AM,
hamid iqbal said...
-
Why not ? if there would be a sponsorship and patronage,then I will have to think over it,thanks for your interest,Ms.Maria
-
At 1:50:00 PM,
said...
-
You bring your work to Lahore and you will then get 'sponsorship and patronage.' Wish you success. Your work needs more recognition.
-
At 4:00:00 AM,
said...
-
Amazing work, I want to see more work, you are very talented and your strokes are wonderful
plz post more pictures
-
At 2:06:00 PM,
said...
-
a very impressive work its slightly reminds me of late sir gul g .great work.
-
At 8:27:00 PM,
Mr. Ono said...
-
It is a great work, salute for your works
-
At 4:46:00 PM,
Unknown said...
-
I would like to thank you for your initiative, you are really talented, great work. I have only one suggestion for you, but if you got to study the principles application for Arabic fonts that would be fantastic.
Best of luck
-
At 1:10:00 PM,
yousuf said...
-
great painting awesome article
-
At 10:44:00 AM,
ahmed said...
-
I want to see more work, you are very talented and your strokes are wonderful
<< Home
Jalal HB said...
Marryam Chaudhry said...
