Page 25 - Hussein Revivalism14

him for corrections. The more I I was beginning to be recognised in the realm of art is music. Even
worked on this, the more interesting as an Arabic calligrapher and was though each musical note exists on
it became. Gradually I found myself receiving requests for my work from its own, it is the way that they are
completely absorbed in Arabic corporations and embassies. I was strung together to create a piece
calligraphy. skilled for a Japanese practitioner of music and how that music is
of the art and I thought that I was played that are the basis for stirring
INTERVIEWER: What is it about drawing the characters perfectly, a person’s heart. This is the same
Arabic writing that appeals to but the world-class calligraphers as the case of Arabic calligraphy.
you? I met at the Baghdad event had Combining letters creates a sort of
some harsh criticism for me. They rhythm—a silent yet musical flow.
HONDA: Each character is told me that to draw the characters
perfectly balanced, with a natural without strictly adhering to the INTERVIEWER: What is it that
sort of shape. The proportions of established rules was unacceptable. you hope to express through
the characters are quite beautiful. At the event I was introduced to the your calligraphy?
Arabic calligraphy has a sort of Turkish calligrapher Hasan Çelebi.
musical rhythm. Even a person who I asked him to correct my work HONDA: After I graduated from
via airmail. At first, the characters
university, I spent around four
doesn’t understand their meaning
Leaving His Mark on can pick up on the feeling that the I had drawn were covered by his years as something of a recluse,
corrections in red ink. It was only
characters convey.
instead of entering the workforce;
I had no idea of what path to take
There are basically eight different
around ten years later, in 1998,
an Ancient Art styles of Arabic calligraphy. The that he finally wrote the word in life. Every day I spent reading
the classics, like the works of
shape of each character is governed ‘Congratulations’ to praise my work.
And two years later, he presented
by strict rules. Originally, Arabic
Socrates or Goethe and looked at
characters were developed in order me with the Ijaza diploma certifying paintings by Cezanne. Even though
to express the Qur’an. It took over me as a master calligrapher. I couldn’t see the road ahead, I felt a
a thousand years to perfect each Because the calligraphic lines sensibility awakening within me.
line in order to beautifully write were perfected over a millennium, I’m looking to find answers to the
the words of God. If you examine drawing them takes a high level most fundamental questions for
the characters, you’ll find that the of technical skill that is passed on me, such as: Why was I put on
proportions between the various from teachers to their students. this planet? Where am I headed?
parts correspond to the ‘golden The Arabic characters drawn by I want to articulate my answers
ratio.’ Indeed, Pablo Picasso once master calligraphers all possess the to those questions in a form that
said that the level of artistic mastery same beauty. It’s a universal art that is uniquely mine. When I was
reflected in Arabic calligraphy is so transcends ethnicity or nationality, in my mid-twenties I hadn’t yet
advanced that he ‘would never have which I think is a rarity among the built up the experience needed
started to paint’ had he first known world’s calligraphy. Perhaps the to create something of my own.
of the tradition. Backed by the closest thing to Arabic calligraphy But it was around that age that I
correspondence with that golden
ratio, each line presents us with an
example of artistic perfection.

INTERVIEWER: How long does
it take a person to master one of
the eight styles of calligraphy?

HONDA: It’s said that it usually
takes around twenty years. In my
case, back in 1988, I was invited to
attend an Arabic calligraphy festival
in Baghdad that brought together
188 calligraphers and scholars
from around the world. At the time,

Hussein Revivalism 25