The Brunei Darussalam International Islamic Calligraphy Festival 2024 (BDIICF 2024) brought together calligraphy experts from across the globe to share their skills, techniques, and unique designs rooted in various Islamic traditions.
On the second day of the festival, presentations by local and international Khat calligraphy experts took place at the Main Hall of the International Conference Centre in Berakas. These sessions aimed to raise awareness of calligraphy’s role in transmitting the verses of the Al-Quran and their deeper meanings.
Attended by teachers, students, and members of the calligraphy community, the presentations featured Dr Haji Mohamad Sharol Azmi bin Haji Muluk from Brunei Darussalam, Dr KH Didin Sirojuddin from Indonesia, and Belaid Hamidi from Morocco, each of whom delivered insights on the theme of “Empowering Islamic Calligraphy Art.”
Dr Haji Mohamad Sharol Azmi’s presentation, titled Islamic Calligraphy at Icon Mosque in Brunei Darussalam: Its Role in Spreading Islamic Teachings, focused on his research at Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque. He highlighted the 16 Quranic verses inscribed in the Thuluth script within the mosque—three in the main dome and 13 decorating the walls. These verses emphasize themes of piety, the importance of daily prayers, and calls to perform good deeds. He concluded that the mosque, as a national icon, plays a vital role in spreading Islamic teachings through its aesthetically and spiritually significant calligraphy.
Dr Didin Sirojuddin’s paper, Effective and Strategic Teaching Methods for the Art of Calligraphy: Notes on Teaching and Learning Experiences in Lemka, Indonesia, delved into the importance of a serene environment for nurturing creativity in calligraphy. He emphasized the need to maintain harmony and balance in the composition of calligraphic works.
Belaid Hamidi presented Hamidi’s Methodology in the Study and Teaching of Calligraphy through the Traditional License System, discussing the transmission of calligraphic knowledge through a chain of certified instruction. He touched on how students are trained to pass on calligraphy skills and encouraged to critique others’ work to improve their own.
The festival also provided a platform to promote the art of calligraphy in Brunei Darussalam on an international level, fostering connections with institutions locally and abroad. The presence of experts from various countries offered students and the public a valuable opportunity to engage with and learn from accomplished practitioners in the field of Islamic calligraphy.
The event underscored the importance of promoting and preserving Islamic art, while also enhancing Brunei’s position in the international Islamic art scene. – LYNA MOHAMMAD
