Ali Adjalli
{{Short description|Founder of the "Gol Gasht" style of calligraphy}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox artist
| name = Ali Adjalli
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =قربانعلی اجلی واثق
| native_name_lang = lang-fa
| birth_name = Qorban Ali Ajali Vaseq
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|2|8}}
| birth_place = Mianeh, Iran
| death_date =
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| nationality = Iranian
| residence =
| education = {{plain list |
- Lycée Français, Tehran
- Master's of Architectural Engineering, College of Design, Tehran
}}
| alma_mater =
| known_for = Master calligrapher, painter, poet and educator
| notable_works =
| style =
| movement =
| spouse =
| partner =
| awards =
| elected =
| patrons =
| memorials =
| website =
| module =
}}
Qorban Ali Ajalli Vaseq ({{langx|fa|قربانعلی اجلی واثق}}; pen name, Vassegh; born February 8, 1939) is a master calligrapher, painter, poet and educator, noted for founding the "Gol Gasht" style of calligraphy, characterised by a dense and interlocking play of the Arabic script, a distinctive style now regularly used by Arab and Iranian calligraphers in artworks.
Life and career
Ali Adjalli was born in Mianeh, Iran, on February 8, 1939. He was the son of Mohammed Ali, a Turkish calligraphy poet and a former pupil of calligrapher, Professor Seyed Hossein Mirkhani (1907–1982). His mother taught the Q'ran at Ferdowsi Elementary School and High School."Gulgasht's Pedagogue", in: The Voice of Miyana, [http://www.voiceofmiyana.ir/msnaebi/50 Online:] (translated from Persian)
He attended the Ferdowsi Elementary School and Pahlavi Middle High School and graduated from the Iranian Razi High School in Tehran. He received his initial arts education at Tehran’s Lycée Français, following that with a master's degree in Architectural Engineering from Tehran's College of Design in 1960. Returning to his childhood love of painting, Adjalli then studied calligraphy and calligraphic painting under the direction of Professor Ibrahim Bouzari and Professor Ahmad Najafi Zanjani amongst others."Gulgasht's Pedagogue", in: The Voice of Miyana, [http://www.voiceofmiyana.ir/msnaebi/50 Online:] (translated from Persian)
Shortly after completing his studies, Adjalli developed a new style of calligraphy which he called Gol Gasht,{{Cite journal|url=https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/1038/48/text|title = صفحات پایانی|journal = کیهان فرهنگی|date = March 1363|volume = 3|issue = 1|pages = 48}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.magiran.com/ppdf/nppdf/2387/p0238706930331.pdf|title=Magiran}}Jamm Art & Beyond, Contemporary Art Auction, [Auction Catalogue], 2010, n.p., [https://ansam518.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/jamm_auction_catalogue.pdf Online:] characterised by dense, interlocking style of Arabic script intended for use in painting rather than manuscripts. The script has been described as both "mesmerising and chaotic".Aossey, D.W., "Drawing Conclusions: Shedding a Vital Light on Middle Eastern Art", [Review of S. Eigner's book], Art of the Middle East: Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World and Iran Merrell, 2010] in: Al Jadid, vol. 16, no. 62, 2010 [https://www.aljadid.com/content/drawing-conclusions-shedding-vital-light-middle-eastern-art Online:]
Apart from his work as an artist and poet (writing under the pen name of Vassegh), he began a career as an educator in 1974, becoming a university lecturer on fine arts, and then Master of Calligraphy at numerous institutions including the prestigious Calligraphy Academy of Iran.
Work
His paintings are inspired by his interests in scripture, spiritual poetry and Islamic architecture. He primarily uses acrylic on canvas an applies the medium in thick layers, painting and re-painting over each form until he achieves the desired look and feel. He consciously uses colours selected from the Islamic palette.Jamm Art & Beyond, Contemporary Art Auction, [Auction Catalogue], 2010, n.p., [https://ansam518.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/jamm_auction_catalogue.pdf Online:] His works combine non-figurative representation and abstraction.van der Velden, F., Behr, H.H. and Haußmann, G. (eds), das Licht aus der Nische holen: Kompetenzorientierung im christlichen und islamischen Religionsunterricht der Kollegstufe, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2013, p. 72
Adjalli has exhibited his works at a number of international institutions and galleries,"Ali Adjalli" [Biographical Notes] in: Opera Gallery, Arabesque, [Illustrated Exhibition Catalogue], Beirut, Opera Gallery, n.d., p. 12 including solo exhibitions at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and at the Niavaran Palace Institute and group exhibitions in Sydney, Australia (2012),The Iranian Contemporary Art, July 5 – August 4, 2012 at the New Albion Gallery, See: Iran News, February 7, 2012, [http://www.payvand.com/news/12/jul/1015.html Online:] Abu Dhabi (2010),"Get the lowdown on The Abu Dhabi art fair at Emirate's Palace", Time Out, October 26, 2010, [https://www.timeoutabudhabi.com/art/features/18766-abu-dhabi-art Online:] Dubai (2010), Bahrain (2010)Common Threads Exhition at NM Art Gallery, March 10 -April 16, 2010, Heritage House, Bastakiya, Dubai See: [http://www.artbahrain.org/archives/mar2011/artnews_preview_dubai2_mar.php Art Bahrain] and Rome (2016).Oriental Art, Museum of Oriental Arts, Rome, March 23 – April 30, 2016; See: "Art Exhibition of Iran at the Museum of Oriental Arts in Rome", ANA [http://www.ana.ir/news/2164318 April, 1394 (2016)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903115058/http://www.ana.ir/news/2164318 |date=September 3, 2018 }} (translated from Persian)
The bulk of his Adjalli's work is now held in private collections."Ali Adjalli" [Biographical Notes] in: Opera Gallery, Arabesque, [Illustrated Exhibition Catalogue], Beirut, Opera Gallery, n.d., p. 12 However, examples of his work can be found in the permanent collection of the Tehran Gallery.
Select List of Paintings
- Autumn's Grace 2004van der Velden, F., Behr, H.H. and Haußmann, G. (eds), das Licht aus der Nische holen: Kompetenzorientierung im christlichen und islamischen Religionsunterricht der Kollegstufe, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2013, p. 72
- Sadness Days 2008Eigner, S., Art of the Middle East: Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World and Iran, Merrell, 2010, p. 85
- Charter Boat 2008Eigner, S., Art of the Middle East: Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World and Iran, Merrell, 2010, p. 317
- Allah, 2008–09Eigner, S., Art of the Middle East: Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World and Iran, Merrell, 2010, p. 47
- Love is Many Coloured date unknown"Abu Dhabi: Setting the pace of Art in the Middle East," Sketchbook Magazine, [http://sketchbookmagazine.com/2009/12/art/abu-dhabi-setting-the-pace-of-art-in-the-middle-east/ Online:]
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adjalli, Ali}}
Category:Iranian calligraphers