Shamim Qureshi, a well-known Indian artist of Arabic Islamic calligraphy, had several exhibitions in India and also has on her credit an exhibition in Iran. Some of Qurashi’s work is going to be displayed permanently at a Belgian museum. The Indian consulate currently hosts an exhibition of 30 pieces of Qurashi’s calligraphy artwork in Jeddah.
The colors and materials she selected for her work enhanced the overall effect of her art. She used cement as medium for her calligraphy as embossed work on canvas to capture the writing in Lahori Nastaliq and Jali Dewani, two distinct ways of writing Arabic. These writings are so artistically camouflaged in the foliage that the soul of the viewer is instantly released to soar high into the heavens to catch a glimpse of the divine bliss.
Qurashi grew up in Mumbai. She drew her early inspiration from the beauty of natural phenomena. Her later works portrays the theme of preferring the brighter aspects to the darker ones in life, not only in the objective world but also within oneself.
“Life is not a bed of roses and nothing can be gained without hard work. If you asked me about my life experience, I just can say it was very difficult. But I didn’t lose my heart or hope. Today, I am here, where my country can be proud of me. My work is displayed in a Belgian museum where it will become a part of history. This is a great honor to me,” she said.
The artist is a self-learner. Abdul Ghani Saudagar taught her the basics of the realistic art during her early education. Later she mastered calligraphy, with particular emphasis on the Tughhra and Lahori Nastaliq styles of writing, under Aslam Kiratpuri, a renowned calligrapher based in Mumbai.
She said she started her calligraphy work in English in the beginning of her career but then came toward Arabic. The exhibition in Jeddah is her second international exhibit, and Qurashi is thankful to the Indian consuls of Cultural Relations for providing her with a chance to display her work here.
Arabic Islamic calligraphy has become very famous, she said, especially since producing pieces on the computer facilitated the work. “But writing by hand is easier and more satisfactory, as during this work you feel a spirituality. One art piece takes me almost 15 to 20 days to finish, especially the work on pottery. Embossed work takes time,” she explained.
She uses to work with cement as medium and cut a shape on the base itself to give it a unique look.
“I just start working on the base on which I want to do my work, and cut and polish it according to my requirement to make my work unique and different,” she explained.
Shafiq Ahmed Khan Nadwi, the former head of the Arabic department at Jamia Millat Islamia in New Delhi, India, briefed the audience about the introduction of calligraphy and the historical background of calligraphic art in India. He explained that Indian artists have richly contributed to Islamic calligraphy.
He explained all the forms and types of Arabic Islamic calligraphy, such as Jeli Diwani, Nastaleq, Kufiq, Tuluth and others. In India and Pakistan artist are using Lahori Nastaleq as well. He showed some unique calligraphic art pieces from “Gulistan of Sheikh Saadi.”
Embossing calligraphy is hard work, but satisfactory
Embossing calligraphy is hard work, but satisfactory
