Calligraphy exhibition and workshop at Bahrain Contemporary Art Association

The Exhibition “IRCICA Generation of Calligraphers: Samples of Award-Winner Works in International Competitions” organized jointly with Bahrain Contemporary Art Association, was opened at the Association’s headquarters in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, on 12 October 2022. IRCICA Director General, Ambassador Prof. Dr. Mahmud Erol Kılıç opened the exhibition at the ceremony attended by Parliamentarians, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye in Bahrain H.E. Esin Çakıl, advisors from Bahrain National Museum, calligraphers, art specialists and appreciators. In his address, IRCICA Director General Prof. Dr. Mahmud Erol Kılıç evoked the special significance of the art of calligraphy in Islamic culture and the universal appeal of its spiritual and aesthetical characteristics. Prof. Kılıç briefed the audience about IRCICA’s activities aiming to promote the art of calligraphy and introduced the collection on display, consisting of award-winning works from the first ten rounds of the IRCICA International Calligraphy Competition held over 30 years (1986-2016). The Director General said: “Some award-winners in early rounds of our competition saw their students win awards in later rounds – the theme of our exhibition.”

The six-day event features daily calligraphy workshops conducted by the Calligrapher Ferhat Kurlu (Türkiye). At the opening ceremony, Mr. Kurlu’s student from Bahrain, Mr. Waliullah Mashhood, who completed IRCICA’s training programs, received his Ijaza from his teacher, certifying him as a calligrapher and teacher of this art. The exhibition program also includes a presentation by Mr. Said Kasımoğlu, Chief of the Arts and Handicrafts Section, IRCICA, on the calligraphy competition program.