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Persian Calligraphy
Nasta'liq The Continuation of a Culture
Exploring form, movement, and meaning through the language of Nastaliq
For me, Nastaliq is more than a way of writing; it is a language for experiencing form, color, and meaning, and a way to remain connected with the heritage of Iranian art today.
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Artist's Perspective
Nasta'liq artistic identity
For me, calligraphy is not simply beautiful writing; it is a way of experiencing form, movement, silence, and meaning. Nastaliq is rooted in the heritage of Iranian art, yet every movement of the pen creates the possibility of a new experience. In my work, I try to find a balance between structure and freedom, tradition and personal experience, line and color. Sometimes this path continues through classical Nastaliq, and at other times through calligraphy painting, freer forms, and new visual explorations. What matters to me is maintaining a connection with the roots of Persian calligraphy while continuing to search for a personal language through which to express the experience of the present.
“Calligraphy is a kind of music, not for the ears, but for the eyes.”
V. Lazursky
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Selected Works
A selection of Ali Bagheri’s works in Persian calligraphy, Nastaliq, and calligraphy painting, ranging from classical structures to freer explorations of form, color, and composition.
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Heritage of Iranian Art
Nastaliq; Part of Iran’s Visual Memory
Nastaliq is one of the most significant expressions of Iranian art and culture; a visual language shaped over centuries through its close relationship with poetry, literature, manuscript arts, and the cultural life of Iran. For me, working with Nastaliq is not simply the continuation of a historical tradition. Understanding this heritage is the starting point for exploring form, proportion, the movement of the pen, and new possibilities of artistic expression. Preserving this heritage becomes meaningful when knowledge of the past can enter into dialogue with the experience and perspective of the present.
05Articles
Writings & Research
Essays and research on Persian calligraphy, Iranian art history, Nastaliq, teaching, and the experience of artistic creation.
Articles
01History and Heritage of Calligraphy
What Is Nastaliq? A Look at Its History, Form, and Uses
Nastaliq is sometimes described as a script, an alphabet, or even a kind of font, but none of these definitions is precise on its own. Nastaliq is, fundamentally, a style of calligraphy: a historical, rule-based method for shaping letters and words and for arranging their relationship with the line11 min readRead
02History and Heritage of Calligraphy
Behind a Nastaliq Page: Who Took Part in Making a Manuscript?
A historical Nastaliq page was not always the work of one person. Calligraphers, illuminators, painters, binders, patrons, and later arrangers could all shape its final form. To understand it, we must ask who made each part, when, and where.11 min readRead
03Calligraphy Education and Experience
From Master to Student: How Was Nastaliq Taught?
This article traces the historical development of Nastaliq instruction, from master–student relationships, practice and calligraphy treatises to the role of earlier masters’ works and print. The evidence suggests that Nastaliq was not taught through a fixed curriculum; skills were transmitted ...15 min readRead
Continue the Journey
Explore the World of the Works
Each artwork is part of a continuing journey, from classical Nastaliq and Persian calligraphy to calligraphy painting, color, and freer explorations of form. The works offer a closer view of this path and the details of each piece.
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