The Byelorussians Give the Go-Ahead!

On February 11-12, Maria Makeyeva, Coordinator of the International Exhibition of Calligraphy, met a Belorussian calligrapher Pavel Semchenko, an outstanding and amazing person. Having learned to contemplate, he learned to create. Pavel is not only a fine calligrapher. He has mastered a lot of specializations and his knowledge is truly encyclopedic.

The meeting took place at the artist’s workshop in Minsk, where he showed some of his works. His motto says, «Material values must be limited by reason and spirit must be boundless». His spirit is boundless for sure. The artist is the author of the notion ‘calligram’ or ‘calligraphic drawing’. The message is conveyed not through the text but through the image drawn on a calligraphic paper. Semchenko describes himself, «I am a baroque man. I am working with a calligraphic pen as if it were a bow playing a one-string tune». He does not work on paper only. His new fancy is calligraphic masterpieces on metal. He likes this material because it is time-proof. Such calligraphic style is called ‘burin writing’. A metal graver is used as a calligraphic pen to chisel out letters on a metal sheet. It is a long-forgotten and sophisticated technique.

Pavel Semchenko introduced some of his colleagues, most of whom were his students. The Byelorussians actively support the International Exhibition of Calligraphy and are ready to present seven participants on their part with calligraphic works in various styles and trends. Pavel Semchenko will visit the official presentation of the project, which will take place on February 15, 2008 at Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Maria Makeyeva
Coordinator of the International Exhibition of Calligraphy