ISLAMABAD: A calligraphy exhibition opened on Saturday at the Islamabad Art Gallery in F-9, attracting a large number of art enthusiasts and visitors from diverse backgrounds.
The event was inaugurated by former Federal Minister Syed Jamal Shah in the presence of guests from different fields, including education, the arts, and public service.
The colorful ceremony was opened by artist Syed Riaz. He did not use ink and paper. Instead, each piece was built by hand using materials such as hessian cloth, twisted string, wire gauze, corrugated sheet, lace, and paper mache, all layered over an MDF board. Liquor polish and acrylic paint were applied to give each surface its final color and finish. The result was calligraphy that could be felt as much as seen, with sacred text rising from the surface in layers of texture and depth.
Visitors stopped and looked closely at each piece, discovering that what appeared to be a bold stroke of lettering was in fact made from twisted paper strips, or that a gentle shimmer came from net cloth sealed beneath polish. Several attendees said the works made them think differently about both calligraphy and the everyday materials used to create it. The response from people of different backgrounds was warm and genuine, with many saying the exhibition stayed with them long after they left the gallery.
Syed Jamal Shah praised the exhibition as a strong example of personal expression within a traditional art form. He noted that Syed Riaz Ali Shah had found his own path and his own language, using materials that were simple and familiar yet producing work that was fresh and full of meaning. The Islamabad Art Gallery at F-9 provided a fitting space for the works, with good lighting that brought out the surface detail and texture of each piece clearly.
Syed Riaz Ali Shah belongs to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and previously served in the Armed Forces of Pakistan. His work reflects a blend of discipline, innovation, and artistic vision, qualities that were evident throughout the exhibition.
Also read:PM Shehbaz meets Chinese corporate leaders to boost investment and energy cooperation
