By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, Jan 12:
Indian calligraphers were honoured at the recent 18th Cheongju Jikji, a World Letter Calligraphy international Calligraphy Biennale (Competition) held at the Korean Art Museum organized in South Korea.
The competition was held from December 23 to December 28, 2021. A total of 71 works of art were submitted by 40 calligraphers in different Indian languages in this calligraphy competition. Calligraphers from different countries presented their arts in their own scripts.
This competition was based on the theme-” Peace, Unity, Love”. On this occasion, a group of Korean calligraphers urged the artists to preserve the Korean traditional method. The participation of Korean artists generated enthusiasm among Indian calligraphers.
The “Cheongju Jikji” World Calligraphy Competition, not only introduces the cities of Jikji and Hangul to the world but also conveys to the new generation the only one heritage of calligraphy of the central region. “Cheongju Jikji” has achieved the status of World Heritage and its name is also included in the UNESCO world list. In addition, it is affiliated with the International Written Heritage Centre (ICDH).
Calligraphy is the art of beautiful handwriting. The term derives from the Greek words for “beauty” (kallos) and “to write” (graphein). It implies a sure knowledge of the correct form of letters—i.e., the conventional signs by which language can be communicated—and the skill to make them with such ordering of the various parts and harmony of proportions that the experienced, knowledgeable eye will recognize such compositions as a work of art.
The calligraphers from India who won the awards included Achyut Palav, Narayana Bhattathiri, Akshaya Thombre, Rupali Thombare, and Shubhangi Gade.
Achyut Palav, who completed G.D Art from Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art, Mumbai, also received Research Scholarship from Ulka Advertising for a thesis on the “Modi” script. He had been an Ex. A faculty member of Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art. Narayana Bhattathiri is a name synonymous with Malayalam calligraphy.
Akshaya Thombre is a student of “Achyut Palav School of Calligraphy”, who is among the new generation of inspired calligraphers with imagination and a heightened sense of aesthetic.
Rupali Thombre is a student of “Achyut Palav School of Calligraphy, is an engineer by education. But she cultivated Calligraphy as a hobby which gave her a new identity of writer, poet, painter snd calligrapher. Shubhangi Gade has participated in many national and international calligraphy and other art exhibitions.
