Art of Calligraphy

The samples of calligraphy in my webpage are included for their aesthetic value.  Calligraphy is the oldest and most common form of Islamic art. Arabic calligraphy became the common grounds for developing both Arabic and Islamic arts.

Calligraphy in Islamic and Arabic cultures is highly respected as an art -- the art of writing. However, some other cultures might consider calligraphy as penmanship or a craft prettified with floral ornaments or with fanciful decorative additions. This considerable difference illuminates cultural variations. Since arts are products of a culture, the aesthetic principles represent the cultural values.

Arabic calligraphers integrate inner experiences with their experiences of external reality. By imbuing strokes with life and feeling, an equilibrium of energy flows from all composing elements. A calligrapher's integration of inner and external realities results in a very personalized style and is accompanied by concentrated and unremitting scholarly study. The development of a calligraphy style is as unique as the calligrapher's personality, and its achievement is considered as the representation of the individual's self-cultivation.

Because of the Islamic depiction ban, calligraphy is the most important pillar of Arabic art, which is the reason for the fact, that Arabs make great demands on the aesthetic quality of writing.

Calligraphy was and will remain playing fundamental role in the history of mankind, as it is a key tool of establishing communication among peoples; conveying and preserving human heritage along with its experiences over times and maintaining civilizations from generation to another.

If you like your name to be written in Arabic script, you may contact me at mkho@tjc.edu

The followings are some of the samples of my work:

For additional information, you may find the following URL useful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_calligraphy