TEHRAN – Turkish calligrapher Aydin Kose, whose exhibition is underway at the Iranian Artists Forum (IAF) in Tehran, believes calligraphy is the joint art of the Iranian and Turkish nations.

He made his remarks during the meeting he had with IAF director Majid Sarsangi on Sunday, adding that calligraphy is one of the oldest arts dating back a thousand years.

“This art of calligraphy has developed over the past thousand years and many great artists have helped promote this art. I personally do not like to make great changes in calligraphy since it has made as much progress as it could have,” Kose told Sarsangi.

He also said that teaching calligraphy to today’s students is similar to what was done 200 years ago; adding that in Turkey the calligraphy style of thulth is most widely practiced, while in Iran nastaliq style calligraphy is more widespread.

Pointing to one of Kose’s works that shows the Asma-ul-Husna (beautiful names of Allah), Sarsangi talked about Iran’s exhibition of Asma-ul-Husna held annually in the forum.

Kose further talked about his collaboration with an Iranian artist for the illumination of one of his works due to be displayed at Iran’s exhibition of Asma-ul-Husna.

The Turkish calligrapher also briefly talked about the sheets of paper and the type of ink he himself makes for his works.

A Turkish cultural festival opened at the forum on Saturday and will come to an end today. Several art shows, film screenings and meetings about new Turkish cinema were arranged for the festival.

Photo: Turkish calligrapher Aydin Kose (L) accompanies Iranian Artists Forum (IAF) Director Majid Sarsangi (R) during a visit to his exhibition at the IAF in Tehran on October 3, 2015. The exhibition is part of programs arranged for a Turkish cultural festival, which ends today. (IAF/Leila Ebrahimi)

RM/YAW
END