The Union Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge), Tourism (Independent Charge), and Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma inaugurated a two-month exhibition on ‘Art of Calligraphy and Beyond: Arabic-Persian Inscriptions on Decorative Arts objects’ at National Museum in New Delhi today. It is an exhibition of Islamic-style writing on objects of daily use. With this, the age-old aesthetics of calligraphy and craftsmanship have been combined in a rare display. Displaying 56 utility artefacts from the past five centuries, ‘Art of Calligraphy and Beyond: Arabic-Persian Inscriptions on Decorative Arts objects’ at National Museum (NM) focuses on tastefully done inscriptions on metal-ware, wood, textiles and semi-precious stones — all of them from its own reserve collections.
After paying a visit to the exhibition, the Minister said that National Museum is doing a wonderful work to preserve our art and culture and he appreciated the efforts of National Museum in organizing this calligraphy exhibition. Our young generations can learn from this exhibition how calligraphy has evolved through the ages, he added. Its artefacts have been arranged in five main groups: writing implements, religion, faith, tradition and trade. All what is written on the exhibits has been made intelligible to the general visitor. The exhibition, which will be continue till July 12, 2015 is not just about Arabic-Persian inscriptions on a set of artefacts. It also includes several other features like different forms of surface ornamentation and aesthetic values which make it unique. The works are not only confined to paper. The beautiful inscriptions on objects such as metal-ware pen-cases, bowls, plates, alams, wooden boxes, mendicant bowls, amulets, bracelets, textiles and costumes can also be seen.
The name of the patron or calligrapher is also inscribed on the objects. For instance, a brass shallow bowl from circa 1495 CE (the oldest at the show) belongs to Sultan Sikander Lodi who ruled Delhi for 28 years from 1489. Interestingly, it informs the name of the calligrapher—as Mohmood Bin Mahammad Bin Haji Mahmood Farsi. Similarly, a brass globe from the period of Mughal emperor Shajahan (1627-58) informs the maker’s name: Mohammad Ibn Illahdad Humayuni Lahori. Director General of National Museum, Shri Sanjiv Mittal and senior officials of Ministry of Culture were also present on the occasion.