Calligraphy is a kind of visual art of writing that can be seen on different kinds of material and objects. Many people think that word calligraphy is some kind Arabic, but it has Greek origin from words "kallos - beautiful" and "graphe - writing".There is many kinds of calligraphy writings - some of them has Western origin, some of those writings are characteristic for Sauth Asia region, some was very isolated like Mayan calligraphy, but here we will talk about Islamic calligraphy that has roots in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is practiced even today in Sarajevo and Bascarsija.
Art in Islam
Since painting a live human or animal portrays is forbidden in Islam calligraphic art of writing also called "Khatt ul-Yad or hand writing" was a nice way for Islamic artists to express their ideas. Islamic calligraphy is associated with painting of geometric objects on mosque walls as well as on the page of paper. Calligraphy has become very popular in Islamic world because it provides a link between spiritual meanings of Qur'an and artistic approach in spreading of religion. Until now some proverbs or passages of Qur'an is source for Islamic calligraphy. It is generally accepted that the golden age of Islamic calligraphy was in the time of Ottoman empire. Turkish calligraphers even now has most beautiful and refined works in this kind of art.
Most of Bosnian calligraphers are influenced with Turkish school in calligraphy. Today it is possible to find very good original pieces in Bascarsija.
In this video we present to you process of creation one of the calligraphic works by hand of Hazim Numanagic.
This video series is brought to us by web portal www.bascarsija.info and citizens association "Zona unaprijeđenog poslovanja Baščaršija".
