Tag: Calligraphy
Alice Mazzilli and the Calligraphy of the Wall
Alice Mazzilli practices a graffiti-like visual art form called jamigraphy — or jamming with calligraphy — that combines writing, painting, music, and movement. This article tells her story while exploring the value and beauty of imperfect handwriting.
Why Write by Hand?
The author argues that writing by hand (versus typing) leads to increased learning, greater creativity, and even better health — benefits that we are in danger of losing in our haste to adopt digital tools.
Written in Stone
The author interviews a third-generation stone carver about creating calligraphy in the hardest material possible. Their conversation touches on history, art, and the future of manual craftsmanship in the United States.
Ritual, Identity, and the Body
Philippine cultural advocate Kristian Kabuay describes his artistic journey from the United States to the Philippines and back, and from graffiti to martial arts to batok, a traditional tattooing practice that incorporates body, identity, and language.
News by Hand
Why would anyone handwrite a newspaper? The Musalman — a four-page Urdu paper that has been written, every day, by hand ever since it was founded in 1927 — suggests that the act of writing by hand (and its sister act, the act of reading handwriting), incorporates far more than the mere transmission of information.
The Nomad Script
Tim Brookes discusses the survival of the Mongolian language and script, the decrease in their use over the past century, and the art and beauty of Mongolian calligraphy. He highlights the work of Tamir Samandbadraa Purev, an award-winning calligrapher who has dedicated his life to preserving his native script.
Poetry in Bamboo
Bamboo carving is a traditional writing technique of the indigenous Mangyan people of the Philippines. Tim Brookes describes how ancestral poetry is inscribed onto the plant, highlighting the culture’s connection with nature and spirituality.
Writing Joyfully
While the traditional Ranjana script is recognized and respected in Nepal, most people can’t read or write it due to centuries of restriction and oppression. Now, thanks to local efforts at teaching calligraphy, it’s making a comeback.
Kulitan and the Fight for Revival
Tim Brookes poses the question, “How can a script that serves a language spoken by millions be endangered?” At issue is the traditional Kulitan script, employed by the Kapampangan people of the Philippines. Brookes discusses its decline, efforts at revival, and what’s at stake.