Applications of Calligraphy

TRADITIONAL APPLICATIONS FOR CALLIGRAPHY:

Persian and Ottoman kings have always been interested in calligraphy. There have been numerous occasion that they used the royal calligraphers' artworks:


1- King's Seal

Especially in ottoman calligraphy we see this form as Tughra.            

2- Daily logs:

Writing the day-to-day events of the things happening around in the daily log was a major job for the royal calligrapher(s).

3- Art Pieces from Poetry:

Persian kings have always been interested in Persian poetry and they had royal poets in the palace. One of the major jobs for royal calligrapher(s) was to write these pieces of poetry in beautiful writing. Sometimes these pieces would be selected as a gift item that a member of royal family gave or received.

4- Architecture:

Persian, ottoman, Islamic architecture has always been decorated with calligraphic pieces. Calligraphy can be seen on Persian, Turkish, Arab, and even Indian buildings and mosques.  Among all the calligraphic styles, Nastaliq calligraphy has been the prime selection to write non-religious content (in Persian, Urdu, and Turkish) and other styles to write the religious content (in Arabic language).

5- Books:

It has been common that calligraphers were commissioned to work on an entire book. This could be a book of poetry or else..

 

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS FOR NASTALIQ:

In 20th and 21st centuries, there are new apllications for Nastaliq:

1- Calligraphy Paintings:

Calligraphy paintings in Nastaliq and cursive Nastaliq styles are one the most popular forms of calligraphy art pieces sold in galleries or auctions.

2- Custom Calligraphy and Gift Items:

One of the popular applications of Nastaliq Calligraphy is calligraphy pieces as gift items for certain occasions: mother's day, anniversary, valentine's day, wedding, birthday, etc. These gift items could be a framed art on paper or canvas, an etched ring or necklace, or even a mug, plate or a t-shirt with a custom Nastaliq calligraphy on it.
 
3- Nastaliq Wedding Cards / Nastaliq Wedding Invitations:

Wedding is a lifetime experience and the first thing ever that the guests will see would be the wedding invitation itself. This is the reason having a beautifully designed wedding card is so important especially Persians, Afghans, and Urdu speaking people in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India would commission Nastaliq calligraphers to create the wedding invitations in Nastaliq calligraphy.

4- Nastaliq Headstones / Nastaliq Gravestones:

Headstone is an important monument that represents the loved one who has passed away. Family members and friends remember and get connected to him or her by going to cemetery and looking and touching the headstone. Having a custom Nastaliq calligraphy for the headstone design is a tradition among Persians, Afghans, Pakistanis and and Urdu speaking Indians and Bangladeshis. The Nastaliq headstones usually indicate not only the name and dates born and died, but it also usually includes a selected poem in beauiful Nastaliq or cursive Nastaliq calligraphy.

5- Nastaliq Tattoos:
Body art and tattooing have been around in Persia for hundreds -if not thousands- of years in Persia. Professionally done Nastaliq calligraphy designs are becoming more and more popular as tattoo designs. Even people from non-Persian descent including Europeans, Americans, Canadians, Australian, and Latina people show great interest in getting their favorite poems or quotes in form of a Nastaliq or cursive Nastaliq tattoo on their bodies.

6- Nastaliq for Interior Design:
This is one of the new applications for Nastaliq calligraphy. Instead of having framed arts on the walls, the entire Interior walls and columns will be painted with Nastaliq designs on them.
  
7- Nastaliq Calligraphy on Furniture :
This is also one of the new applications for Nastaliq calligraphy. Furniture with Nastaliq curves on them look more relaxing and at the same time elegant. Other than printing Nastaliq or cursive Nastaliq on the fabrics used on furniture, there are also wood artists who carve calligraphic designs on wood to make the wooden parts of the furniture as well.