Calligraphy exhibition ‘IQRA’ at Lok Virsa
Lok Virsa in collaboration with Salim A Khan, is holding calligraphy exhibition titled as ‘IQRA’.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition was held here at Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology, popularly known as Heritage Museum, at Lok Virsa
Complex, Garden Avenue, Shakarparian. Lok Virsa’s executive director Khalid Javaid performed the ceremony as chief guest.
In his address, Khalid Javaid informed about certain initiatives that his organization has undertaken in order to document, promote and preserve the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Pakistan since its inception in the year 1974 adding “it is a humble effort on the part of Lok Virsa and Salim Khan to mark the holy month of Muharram”. He appreciated the services of Khan for bringing the exhibition at Lok Virsa.
Individuals, groups or classes of notable masters and practitioners of all traditional arts and skills to ensure ways and means of their continuance by providing suitable incentives, he maintained.
A large number of people from different walks of life including cultural personalities, students, youth and general public attended the event and praised for the professionalism of the organizations in preparing and presenting the exhibition in such a beautiful manner.
The exhibition displays a collection of calligraphic panels on Quranic verses. In all, 64 panels are on display at the hall of changing exhibitions with the Heritage Museum. The exhibition will remain open for public till 28 November daily from 10.00 a.m. till 6.00 p.m. except Monday.
Quran is the heavenly books revealed by Allah to the last of his messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is the book memorized and recited by millions of Muslims every day.
And it is also the book that forms basis of the religion of Islam and its foremost source of knowledge. Unfortunately, it is almost always been read without understanding it.
Salim Khan studied at National College of Arts, Lahore and specializes in fine arts. In his earlier career, he joined the department of archaeology as a modeler. During his stay at the National Museum, Karachi he had the privilege to display many prominent exhibitions in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
His distinguished contribution was the remarkable display at the Moenjodaro Museum in Sindh. In 1973, Salim Khan migrated to Canda with his family where he is not only providing expertise in commercial graphics but also run a successful manufacturing business of neon signs. He leveraged his business and his artistic talents to contribute to the spirit of multi-culturalism in Canada. As an independent artist and as a member of several coordinating teams, Salim has been a key contributor to over 100 inter-cultural festivals and art exhibitions
Calligraphy, the art that combines visual image and written word, is perhaps at its most brilliance in the arts of Islam. Islamic calligraphy traditionally took its inspiration from the Muslim belief in the divine origin of Arabic writing, the medium through which the Quranic revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him) was recorded.
The aim of the exhibition is to emphasize on the importance of the understanding Quran
