Of Divine Eloquence: Intertwined conversations in the languages of Islamic, Chinese, and Korean Calligraphies

AAS-in-Asia
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
9-11 July, 2024

 In traditional Muslim art, calligraphy is believed to embody divine beauty. It is a medium that harmonizes the self and the universe thereby creating a profound singular experience. Each character is imbued with distinctive personality, symbolic significance, mathematical weight, ecological reference, physiological attributes, and esoteric meanings. Drawing letters shapes the artist’s perceptions, emotions, thoughts, and subjectivity, making calligraphy a dialogical act where drawing and the crafting of the self happen simultaneously. 

Historically, flows of artistic knowledge and letters transcended national borders, making Asia one of the most cosmopolitan regions in the world. This special roundtable was a Pan Asia conversation between calligraphers from Indonesia, Pakistan, China and South Korea. It discussed the aesthetic sensibilities of each tradition while exploring and comparing syncretic paths of knowledge.

Drawing on a combined format of direct exchange, technical demonstrations and a workshop to engage the audience in the techniques, dispositions, and expertise that breathe life into the script, the artists explained how this form of writing circulates and how it is shared by calligraphers across Asia. They will delve into calligraphy’s spiritual, ethical, and historical dimensions while addressing its challenges as we enter the age of artificial intelligence.