Lecture
Two Dialogic Network lectures by Siavash Rafiee Rad and Keramat Fathinia
- Date
- Monday 1 December 2025
- Time
- Location
-
University Library
Witte Singel 27
2311 BG Leiden - Room
- Vossius Room
This Dialogic Network event consists of two lectures:
1. The Sacred Art of Persian Calligraphy: From Form to Vision (Siavash Rafiee Rad)
This talk will explore Persian calligraphy as a unique fusion of art, spirituality, and history. The talk will examine how the flowing forms of letters convey poetry, Sufi philosophy, and mystical vision, with a focus on its historical development specifically under Safavid and Mughal patronage. By looking at materials and design, the talk will explore how calligraphy transforms words into a meditative, visual experience, inviting viewers to engage with beauty, meaning, and the sacred.
2. Siyāh-mashq in Persian Calligraphy (Keramat Fathinia)
The Qajar era proved to be a watershed period in the development of Persian calligraphy since it was during this time that a particular calligraphic visual expression came to be especially valued. The expression would eventually mature into the canon that we now refer to as Qajar calligraphy and its distinctive visual features. Siyāh-mashq is a prime example of that canon, reflecting the intuitiveness and creativity of the calligrapher, which allows for greater stylistic expression and greater freedom than traditional calligraphic models stemming from the idea that form is paramount. Through siyāh-mashq, calligraphers can unleash their artistic creativity and explore novel expressions that go beyond traditional constraints. The freedom to experiment with forms, shapes, and strokes allows for an intriguing interplay of patterns and rhythms, resulting in compositions that are visually engaging. This study explores the emergence of early neo-traditionalist practices in Persian calligraphy and examines the concept of “freedom of arrangement” within the siyāh-mashq tradition. It investigates whether the visual qualities of calligraphy take precedence over textual meaning and to what extent form may outweigh content in siyāh-mashq. The research begins by analysing the earliest known nastaʿlīq siyāh-mashq pieces from the Safavid period (1501–1736 CE), using them as a foundation for comparison with the more developed examples produced during the Qajar period (1789–1925 CE). This analysis is further extended to selected siyāh-mashq works spanning from the Safavid era to the present day.
About the invited speaker: Keramat Fathinia is a Persian calligrapher with over 25 years of experience teaching the principles and techniques of the nastaʿlīq script to students of diverse backgrounds and skill levels. He completed his PhD in Persian calligraphy at SOAS, University of London, where he examined modernist calligraphic genres within the tradition. His work is dedicated to helping others appreciate the cultural and artistic significance of Persian calligraphy.
No registration is required and please feel free to share the information with anyone who you think might be interested in the above event.
Please contact the organizer, Dr Siavash Rafiee Rad (s.rafiee.rad@hum.leidenuniv.nl) if you have any questions.
Persian calligraphy sessions
The Network also has organised Persian calligraphy sessions (hands-on sessions), taught by the invited speaker, which will take place on the following dates :
Tuesday, 2 December, between 11:15am and 12:30pm
Thursday, 4 December, between 11:15am and 12:30pm
Friday, 5 December, between 11:15am and 12:30pm
If you are interested in attending any of the above calligraphy (hands-on) sessions, please contact Dr Siavash Rafiee Rad (s.rafiee.rad@hum.leidenuniv.nl) to register for these sessions as places for these sessions are limited.