I always used to experiment with my handwriting in school. In architecture, I was really inspired by some of my seniors for their unique way of writing alphabets for presentation drawings. Afterwards, I realized that it's Calligraphy :-). Then I really started experimenting with my own handwriting. There were 100 types of “A”s I had tried. Anyways, that mania was only till I completed my architecture and later on computers had taken over.
But calligraphy indeed plays an important role in architecture. It's a great inspiration as an abstract concept. But if we go into the empirical process of thinking then oops….we would end up making buildings full of inscriptions on walls… ending up in Graffiti or Anemic writing. Unlike Graffiti calligraphic practice is “the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skilful manner". Whereas Graffiti is considered vandalism most of the time.
Inspirational calligraphy simply means the execution of ideas in abstract form. To be very precise, structures are designed with free-flowing forms.
There are numerous examples of the actual implementation of calligraphy in history especially in Islamic architecture.
Light Calligraphy is another very interesting form. Julien Breton’s work is just incredible. I never expected this type of application of calligraphy.
Architecture provides a vast platform to display Calligraphy as an art.
Let's see a few beautiful masterpieces of Indian Calligraphy.
Japanese Calligraphy
Vertical Calligraphy
Few more interesting Indian forms
Islamic Calligraphy
Few more...
Special thanks to world-renowned Calligrapher Achyut Palav for his amazing work included here.
Some temple inscriptions,
Hindu wheel of life and rebirth
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