Join us for an introduction to Persian Calligraphy with master calligrapher Alibaba Awrang. Fusing Persian letters with bright, bold colors and patterns, Alibaba uses both traditional and modern artistic techniques. Awrang will present an overview of calligraphy, give a demonstration and show examples of his work, and then assist you in creating your own piece. No experience needed; all skill levels welcome. All materials will be provided. Alibaba will also share his story, including his position as head the Department of Calligraphy and Miniature Painting at the Turquoise Mountain Institute in Afghanistan, an NGO founded by the former Prince of Wales (now King Charles III).
TICKETS (includes all materials)
$30 General Admission
$25 Members
Free for Connecticut Museum NARM members and above
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About the Artist: Awrang comes from Ghazni Province in Afghanistan. He studied calligraphy in Tehran, Iran., and opened his own gallery in Kabul, where he also taught calligraphy. His work is well known in the Eastern world, with exhibitions in Kabul, Tehran, Bahrain, Dubai, Istanbul, Islam Abad, Tajikistan and Melbourne, among others. His recent commission of a large triptych was installed in the fall of 2022 in the entry gallery of the I. M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar. At the pinnacle of his career, Awrang was evacuated from Afghanistan by the U.S. Department of State in 2021, and is relaunching his career from his new home in Connecticut.
Since his arrival, Awrang’s work has been featured in three exhibitions in Connecticut: a sold-out show, From Kabul to Connecticut, in November, 2022, at the Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens in Litchfield County; in a September 2023-January 2024 show at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, Between the Worlds: Stories of Artists and Migrations, co-curated by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Munson-Williams Proctor Arts Institute, and the Mattatuck Museum; and in a recent show at the Five Points Annex in Torrington, CT.
“While my work is rooted in ancient tradition, it is a new kind of Islamic art,” explains Awrang, “striving to open a new horizon by connecting the past, present and future through the prism of postmodernism. I depart from tradition by combining both script and painting. In every maze of my calligraphic work, there is mystery; and in every turn and twist of its colors, I reflect the human condition.”
Questions? Contact Natalie Belanger, Adult Programs Manager, at nbelanger@connecticutmuseum.org.
