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Afghanistan’s first exhibition on Kufic calligraphy opened Saturday (March 14) in Herat, featuring artworks inspired by the ancient Islamic script.
Organized by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in partnership with the Herat Calligraphers Association and the provincial Department of Information and Culture, the four-day Kufic calligraphy exhibition offers a unique experience. Notably, organizers have reserved the final two days exclusively for female visitors.
A total of 69 calligraphy artworks created by masters and students of the Herat Calligraphers Association are on display at the exhibition in Herat.
Abduljalil Tawana, head of the Herat Calligraphers Association, told Khate-Nakhost News Agency that the artworks presented at the exhibition are of high artistic quality and have the potential to be displayed at international Islamic art exhibitions.
According to him, the works have been created with inspiration from different forms of Kufic calligraphy developed across various historical periods, reflecting the evolution of this ancient Islamic calligraphy style.
Among the featured works, 34 pieces have been created by Nik Mohammad Mostamand Ghori, a calligrapher based in Herat. Ghori, who has been active in the field of calligraphy art for more than 25 years, says he has produced more than 400 calligraphy artworks, some of which have been sold to art enthusiasts.
The calligraphy master emphasized that stronger support from both the government and the public is necessary to further develop Islamic calligraphy and preserve traditional calligraphy arts in Afghanistan.
The Herat Calligraphers Association is considered one of the important centers for calligraphy training in Herat. According to its officials, the association currently has 12 calligraphy masters and more than 50 students, where different styles of Islamic calligraphy are taught, including 10 to 15 forms of Kufic script from various historical periods.
