Calligraphic Journeys through the Beauty of Islamic Art
Islamic calligraphy is regarded as one of the foremost arts in the history of the art of calligraphy, practiced across a vast geography stretching from Southeast Asia to North Africa. Over the centuries, this art form has inspired generations of calligraphers to create some of the world’s most memorable masterpieces.
Join us for an experiential workshop exploring the traditional Persian and Ottoman Schools of Calligraphy and contemporary CalligraVie School in Paris with visiting Master Calligraphers Bahman Panahi and Nuria Garcia Masip.
Calligraphic Journeys: From Africa to East Asia
This workshop, led by two renowned masters of Arabic script calligraphy, takes participants on a journey across the vast geography where this art has flourished, from North Africa to the Far East.
Islamic calligraphy has never been confined to a single region; instead, it traveled widely, engaging with local cultures and blending with other calligraphic traditions. A well-known example is the Sini script (from Sīnī, “Chinese”), developed in China and still visible today on much of its architecture as well as across Southeast Asia. This historical dialogue between cultures continues in contemporary practice. Eastern calligraphic traditions still inspire calligraphy today, as seen in the work of artist and master calligrapher Bahman Panahi, who has long explored these intersections.
Following an introductory talk and a visual journey through these rich traditions, Master Calligraphers Nuria Garcia Masip and Bahman Panahi will guide participants in a hands-on experience of Arabic script calligraphy, introducing various styles along with the traditional techniques and materials used in this millenary art, as practiced in the Persian and Ottoman schools of calligraphy, and the Contemporary CalligraVie School in Paris.
Collaborators
JOURNEY Chicago is a program of the Chicago Cultural Alliance—a consortium of 50 heritage museums, centers, and historical societies for a more inclusive Chicago.
The Artists
Bahman Panahi
Franco-Iranian artist Bahman Panahi is a contemporary artist, master calligrapher, and musician specializing in Nastaliq and Musicalligraphy. His work highlights calligraphy as a living art, where gesture is combined with rhythm in the search for balance and harmony.
Dr. Panahi studied traditional Islamic and Persian calligraphy with leading Iranian masters Gholam Hossein Amirkhani, Yadollah Kaboli, Abdollah Foradi, and music with masters Mohammad Reza Lotfi and Houshang Zarif. He completed his Ph.D. in music and musicology at Sorbonne University. Musicalligraphy—his exclusive concept—highlights the deep relationship between music and calligraphy expressed in his work. He currently lives in Paris where he directs the de facto CalligraVie school.
Nuria Garcia Masip
Born in Ibiza, Spain, Nuria is a traditional calligraphy artist specializing in the Thuluth and Naskh scripts. Her work is firmly rooted in the Classical School of Calligraphy and preserves the techniques and materials of the tradition.
Nuria studied traditional Islamic calligraphy with Masters Mohamed Zakariya, Hasan Çelebi, and Davut Bektaş. She received her diploma (ijazah) in 2007. She holds a Masters in Art History from the Sorbonne University. She has won prestigious prizes in international calligraphy competitions and her work is held in various museums and private collections. She currently lives in Paris.
RESERVE YOUR SEAT
Date & Time: Wednesday, October 8th | 3PM-6PM
Venue: 5659 S. Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IL. 60637 (private residence)
Materials provided | Light refreshments will be served
Seldon Institute is a proud sponsor of JOURNEY Chicago
To learn more about the Chicago Cultural Alliance’s JOURNEY Chicago program, visit the event calendar.
