EXPO Drama
By: Gabby Ayala
Persian Carpets:
Of all the unique and extravagant arts and crafts of Iran, the delicate weaving of the Persian carpets is the most famous and world renowned. The handicraft dates back to the fifth century B.C. in ancient Persia, recorded by Chinese merchants who would purchase the carpets along the silk route. There are three main types of carpets, the Farsh or ‘Qālii’ which is a carpet 6×4 feet or larger, the Qālicheh which are rugs 6×4 feet or smaller, and nomadic carpets known as Kilim or Zilu, meaning rough carpet. Most carpets are hand woven and can take over a year to complete; the intricacy of the weaving along with the extravagant designs and various and perdurable colors are what make these carpets so sought after. Depending on what region the carpet is being made in, the designs and colors of the carpet will be different. Most carpets use either floral designs or geometric shapes for their distinct motif. Traditionally, carpets are considered the only “furniture” in an Iranian home because sleeping, sitting and praying are all preformed on the floor. The most precious carpets are normally hung on the walls. The carpets can indicate how wealthy a family is, or they can be sold in times of financial need. Some carpets can even be used as currency.
Farsi Calligraphy:
Farsi calligraphy is a form of the Arabic alphabet; however Farsi adds an extra 4 characters (že, gāf, če and pe). Arabic is known across the globe, being recognized as on of the great ancient forms of literature and writing, alongside the text of the olden Chinese civilizations. The Arabic alphabet is derived from the Persian script which is used throughout the Middle East, Old Persian was first created around 552 B.C., it then evolved into Middle Persian then New Persian. The style of Persian writing used today is called Contemporary Persian whose technical vocabulary has been mixed with other Latin derived languages (eg English and French). Each character of the 32 letter alphabet has 4 different forms, the initial form, final form, medial form and isolated form. Each character is pronounced according to a symbol above it. For example, a character can be pronounced normally as “bo”, but if the “bo” has a “יִ” over it the “o” would be held out longer. Arabic is also read from right to left, opposite direction of English. The thing that separates Arabic calligraphy from other forms of writing is its fluent strokes and artistic graceful form. Even for a native speaker, it would take many months before they would be able to write the strokes perfectly. In ancient Persia, scribes would practice their writing for hours. The writing itself is atheistically beautiful, with the traditional black ink accenting the powerful yet delicate strokes. Aside from its distinct form, Arabic calligraphy is also known world wide in the shape of calligrams. These are artworks made up of various Arabic characters which when put together form a picture. The art of Arabic calligraphic writing is a highly revered skill in Islamic culture because traditionally it means the preservation of the Qur’an which is restored by constantly re-writing it over the years.
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