VISUAL POETRY: BEAUTIFUL CALLIGRAPHY

Photo above: Hamid Ajami / ‘Untitled:Red’ (2011), Acrylic on Canvas, Dimensions: 200 x 200 cm.
Photo: courtesy of Mica Gallery

Visual Poetry: Beautiful Calligraphy incorporates some of Hamid Ajami’s most recent, striking works. As a Leading pioneer in Calligraphy, Hamid Ajami, pursued this sacred art form from the age of 15, has founded an innovative new style of Persian Calligraphy: ‘Moala’ – a transformative process that has occurred for the first time in 200 years in Iran’s history of Calligraphy. Originating from his ‘Mo’ala’ Scripts, literally referring to the term ‘The Exalted’, the works on display are a fascinating reflection of Persian Culture fused with inspiration from traditional geometry and contemporary Islamic art. The eyecatching bends and loops in the artist’s Calligraphy have a wonderful resemblance to the slender, diagonal curves in Bridget Riley’s works. Although the respective artist’s were not inspired by one another, Colin Wiggins (Special Projects Curator - National Gallery), will attempt to compare and contrast the geometric forms and calligraphic movement in the paintings, in conversation with the artist himself on the last day of the exhibition (Monday 31st October 2011).

Hamid Ajami / Untitled:Green/Orange’ (2011), Acrylic on Canvas, Dimensions: 150 x 150 cm.
Photo: courtesy of Mica Gallery

Hamid Ajami / ‘Untitled:Blue/Beige’ (2011), Acrylic on Canvas, Dimensions: 150 x 150 cm.
Photo: courtesy of Mica Gallery

Hamid Ajami / ‘Untitled:Black/White’ (2011), Acrylic on Canvas, Dimensions: 150 x 150 cm.
Photo: courtesy of Mica Gallery

Hamid Ajami / Acrylic on Canvas. Photo: courtesy of Mica Gallery

Hamid Ajami / ‘Untitled:Black/Purple’ (2011), Acrylic on Canvas, Dimensions: 100 x 150 cm.
Photo: courtesy of Mica Gallery

Artist

Hamid Ajami (born in Iran, Tehran in 1962) started his practice as a calligrapher aged 15, and later trained under Iranian Master Calligrapher Gholam – Hossein Amirkhaani in the early 1990s in Iran where he also was awarded with the ‘Degree of Excellence’ by Iran’s Calligraphy Association. In 1999, he then obtained an honorary PHD from Iran’s Academy of Art for pioneering an entirely new style in calligraphy, which he entitled “Moala” (exalted). Moala, is unrivalled amongst other Persian and Calligraphy scripts both in style and shape and has inspired the artists’ latest collection of mixed media paintings. In 2002, Hamid Ajami held his first international solo exhibition ‘ Iranian Contemporary Calligraphy’ at the UNESCO’s Headquarters in Paris (February 2002), followed by the Fine Art University in Lebanon (April 2002), the Cultural Institute of Nations Complex, but also exhibited in the Phillipines (February 2003),in France and in Germany. Ajami participated in more than 30 international and national group exhibitions including ‘Masters of Calligraphy in the World of Islam’ in Lebanon, the Tehran Art Expo 2009 and Iranian Calligraphy Biennials among many others. Ajami now resides and works in Tehran.

Event Speakers

Colin Wiggins is Special Projects Curator at the National Gallery. He curated the Gallery’s recent exhibition of Bridget Riley’s work and has worked with various distinguished contemporary artists including Paula Rego, Peter Blake and Anthony Caro. He was until recently the Gallery’s Head of Education and has lectured widely in Europe and the United States. He is currently working on strategies to increase art students’ use of the Gallery’s collection as a resource for their own creativity. Aramis Art Aramis Art seeks to support Iranian artists by exhibiting their works and promoting their art at an international level. With the intention of bringing Iran’s contemporary and Islamic art scene to the rest of the world, the company hopes to not only improve the economy of Iran’s visual art but also raise public awareness on the principles that its art entails. Hamid Ajami’s exhibition at Mica Gallery marks Aramis Art’s debut. Established in 2011, Aramis Art is a based in Tehran.
http://www.aramisart.com

Mica Gallery

Mica Gallery is the UK’s first gallery specialising to Modern Islamic and Contemporary Art. Mica Gallery emerged from the acquisition of the Egee ArRum Art Consultancy and was founded by Reedah El-Saie in 2007 in a private residence in Chelsea. Mica has now expanded into a 1500sq ft space in the heart of Knightsbridge/Chelsea with a small team of full-time staff. Mica represents emerging artists including British, European, Arab, African and South Asian talent. The gallery has successfully placed works with various auction houses, corporate and private collections including members of royal families. The gallery is interested in; Modern Islamic art – art which is directly inspired by traditional Islamic art and architecture; Contemporary art - art, which is informed or inspired by a sense of
Islamic culture or heritage, the Levant regions, Muslim identity and international issues, irrespective of the artist’s race or faith.
http://www.micagallery.com/