A little bit of history...

Calligraphy, (from Greek kallos meaning"beauty" and graph? meaning "writing") is the ancient art of expressing the written word in a highly stylized form. Although an exact date is not known, one could estimate that calligraphy first appeared several hundred years BCE. Its highest purpose is to convey the meaning of spiritual teachings - mystic and esoteric concepts that go beyond the beauty of form. This art can be seen in the countries of both eastern and western hemispheres, reflecting a universal recognition of the association of beauty and the sacred. Modern expressions also reflect this theme and have evolved to include events both sacred and secular. Aside from words, pictures, known as calligrams, are another common depiction of this art form.

A wooden, dried reed qalam is traditionally used to produce calligraphic art. It has been chosen for its flexibility in producing variations in wide, thin or curved strokes. The colors of ink vary widely, both in hue and intensity, to highlight the meaning behind the different movements. Before paper was invented, calligraphy was drawn on papyrus, bark and parchment. Like many art forms, calligraphy has also branched out to express certain stylistic themes: Taliq, Nasta'liq, Suls, Naskh, Reyhan, and Riq'a to name a few. Thousands of hours of painstaking practice are required to master its intricacies.

An ancient art form comes to Ottawa...

Mushfiq Hashimy represents the seventh generation in a long family history of this noble and distinguished art. Fluent in seven different styles of calligraphy, Mushfiq is an outstanding practitioner and promoter of this distinguished art form. Mushfiq's expertise spans several languages, Dari (Farsi), Arabic, Urdu and English calligraphy.

Additionally, he designs his own paper using a marbling technique that acts as a beautiful backdrop, enhancing the calligraphic script. He has conducted workshops and can be commissioned to design invitations, banners, formal written material, and customized messages. Mushfiq has been invited by the Canadian Museum of Civilization on a number of occasions to demonstrate and teach this art form. He was the key artistic contributor to the PETRA exhibit with his Calligraphy artwork. Mushfiq is also visiting faculty at Ottawa School of Arts