Although Iranian artist Ali Shirazi’s bold and dynamic canvases composed of Persian nasta’liq script are a testament to his classical training as a calligrapher, the artist’s work predominantly reflects his distinctly personal and contemporary interpretation of this traditional art form. These centered compositions, made up of tangled calligraphic forms, reference the Holy Quran, whose verses make up a prayer for God’s divine guidance. The highly symbolic colours of black and white signify purity, peace, and modesty in the Islamic faith, whereas the use of blue in Shirazi’s artwork is perceived as a symbol of protection.

 

Ali Shirazi was born in 1960 in Shiraz, Iran. He began training in calligraphy at the age of fourteen, obtaining a distinction from the Iranian Calligraphy Society. Shirazi went on to become the Head of the Isfahan Calligraphy Society, and is a member of the High Council of the Iranian Calligraphy Society. The artist’s works are held in various important private and public collections including the Islamic Culture and Communication Organization, the Imam Ali Museum of Tehran, the Tehran Quran Museum, the Sharjah Art Museum, and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar.