During the seventh and eighth centuries Calligraphy entered Central Asia with the spread of Islam in the region. The art of beautiful writing in Arabic called calligraphy was first used to honour the words of the Holy Book, the Qur'an and became the highest art form. Images of flowers and plants, geometric and mathematical designs were inserted and interwoven with the words of the Holy Qur'an.
Over time, various styles of Arabic calligraphy developed. Square, angular Kufic script was one of the early forms. Others, more flowing, rounded forms developed with time. During the Ottoman period, calligraphy gained a very high standing in society. Several women calligraphers flourished.
In the sub-continent history there were many known women calligraphers who worked with heart and soul in this art and helped in spreading it in the region. The first Mughal emperor Babar's wife was a calligrapher and painter, Aurangzeb's daughter Mehar-un-Nisa Begum was also famous for practising this art.
With the passage of time this ancient art of calligraphy also got influenced by other calligraphy done in the world. Our calligraphers started to draw and paint the words freely and creatively, without strictly following the traditional styles but of course this work, like all their other work, was governed by the principles of balance and proportion, rhythm and unity without which no work of art can be produced.
Now calligraphy has taken a new turn and it has acquired the form of painterly calligraphy. This new way of calligraphy has lately been practised by the calligraphers of our time, women and men both alike. Mussarat Arif is one of the new emerging women calligraphers of our time. She has used 'Kufi' form of calligraphy in her recent exhibition with painterly touch.
The journey of self-discovery motivated her to the creative world of painting. She has chosen calligraphy this time as her painting mode. She has used Kufi as major expression. Her recent work in calligraphy appears in square and circular shapes, highlighted by bright red, orange, blue, ochre, cloudy white - that is all festive colours that are eye catching.
The viewers appreciate her effort and praise her paintings. Mussarart preferred Western Kufi calligraphy using various types of mediums, including oils, acrylics, watercolours and pastels. She decorated her paintings with the use of bright colours, glitters and Islamic motifs.
She did her diploma in Fine Arts (painting) from Karachi School of Arts in 1996. She was also related to the field of art as an art teacher in different schools of Karachi. She has twenty-three group shows and two solo shows to her credit. Her recent exhibition was in artscene galleries last week. Hina Aslam, Shahneela, Iffat Khan, Naheed Chaudhry are some of Karachi based emerging women calligraphers.