The Artistic Language: A Journey through Calligraphy and Symbols

 

High Hopes *DJHH20. Mixed media/Canvas 250.5 X 149cms  2020 (SOLD)

The Artistic Language: A Journey through Calligraphy and Symbols

Why delve into calligraphy, manuscripts, signs, and scratches?

The calligraphy I create serves as a form of "Glossolalia" — a unique expression that began to take shape when I was just 14. Back in high school, I found myself crafting logograms, signs, and doodles, initially spurred by a peculiar circumstance. Some classmates, hesitant to show their report cards to their parents, sought my help for my signatures, which, to them, resembled adult signatures. What began as a mischievous favor soon evolved into a genuine appreciation for conveying messages visually.

At the age of 21, I found myself marked as an Immigrant/Migrant, navigating a new language and culture, relying on images for communication. Museums and galleries became my daily companions, and my communication, though not in French, began to take shape through the visual language of art.

These artistic encounters became my initial vocabulary, with the majority being unspoken but profoundly meaningful. Sculptures from ancient civilizations, African textiles, cuneiform tablets, Gothic cathedrals, and contemporary art paintings spoke to me in a language beyond words.

As I delved into Mesopotamian art and experienced the ancient cuneiform tablets, it felt like breathing in oxygen. These encounters were etched into my mind, transcribed like manuscripts, capturing sensations that may transcend specific languages, existing in a realm of polysensory or perhaps organoleptic expression.

What compels a human to express themselves through art? Why carve a stone in 859 BC, preserving it for millennia? The answers seem elusive, prompting further questions. Where did Miles Davis draw his notes when improvising? How does one stack scales and chord progressions? What thoughts filled Debussy's mind while composing Claire de Lune? The intricate processes of artistic creation and expression continue to intrigue.

In ancient Babylon (Established 1890 BC-539 BC), there was Nabu, the god of writing, who inscribed destinies on sacred tablets. With the advent of Islam, representing God or prophets in images was forbidden. Calligraphy became a meticulous mastery, a reference to the beauty of God. Allah, a symbol of the sublime and omnipresence, transcended cultures in North Africa.

Immerse yourself in an ancient African village, envision a dance under the moonlit sky. Drums resound, a dancer synchronizes with bonfire flames, and another dons a vibrant mask, creating a vivid display of colors. The dance unfolds in perfect harmony with nature, and in that moment, God may seem present. The exclamation of "Allah" echoes through the ritual.

During the Emirate of Córdoba in the Iberian conquest (from 756 to 1031), a new practice emerged — acrobatics with a bull, where the goal was not harm, but to creatively leap over the majestic creature. This convergence of cultures and practices highlights the ever-evolving nature of human expression and the enduring fascination with transcending linguistic boundaries through art.

This spectacle was eventually embraced by the inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula. Initially a public event, these daring performances, known as "lucks," would captivate the audience. When executed exceptionally, eliciting awe, the crowd would erupt in exclamations of "Allah"!!! "Allah"!!! "Allah"!!! Perhaps a manifestation of God Himself. Over time, this enthusiastic cry transformed into the familiar "Olé!!! Olé!!! Olé!!!"

This interjection, initially born from the bull-centric spectacle, soon found its way into other cultural events, including the music indigenous to the Andalusian region, now recognized as flamenco.

In the scorching landscapes of Andalusia, this evolution of beauty, rituals, and dances continued, now accompanied by string instruments, distinct footwear, and altered attire. Yet, a constant remained: the performance under the night sky, in the heart of the desert, encircling a blazing fire. The guitars and rhythmic clapping echoed loudly, a dancer harmonizing seamlessly with the flickering flames. Adorned from head to toe, a gradient of vibrant colors formed in her attire. The warm tones of reds, yellows, and oranges blended with the cool hues of blue, violet, and the radiant gray-white of the full moon. Those present at this customary ritual recognized the deliberate synchronization of these elements, and their exuberant exclamation echoed: "Olé!!! Olé!!! Olé!!!"

Finally words comes from vibration and also calligraphy. 

For our planet, dance, poetry, and the arts have continued their journey through history. Thanks to recorded history, we gain insights into human beginnings and the perpetuation of their expressions, captured, painted, and documented in various forms.

In this way, each creator employs their unique ink, paper, and poem, justifying their originality and leaving an indelible mark on their space-time.