Islamic Calligraphy Exhibition in Tatarstan

Last week the Duslyk Art Gallery at the People’s Friendship House of the Republic of Tatarstan saw the opening of the Unity solo exhibition, featuring the masterpieces by Vladimir Popov, a famous calligraphy artist. The one-month event is held in the context of the Calligraphy in the Name of Peace project, dedicated to the 27th Summer Universiade in Kazan, 2013.

Vladimir Popov, Honorary Artist of the Russian Federation, People’s Artist and Meritorious Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan, veteran of the Great Patriotic War, holder of the Order of the Red Star, two Orders of the Patriotic War, is a native citizen of Kazan who graduated from a local Art School in 1951. Vladimir Popov had adhered to the realistic trend in graphics and painting. He first took up Islamic calligraphy at the age of seventy-two. Now he is eighty-nine, and he has devoted all those years solely to Islamic beautiful handwriting, creating over six hundred works. The artist’s works have been successfully exhibited in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Jordan, Italy, Mongolia.

The opening ceremony was attended by fine art connoisseurs, fellow-artists, friends, and high-ranking officials from the Consulate General of Turkey in Kazan. After a brief historical flashback, the hosting art historians and the author himself illuminated the audience on the essence of Mr. Popov’s artwork.

«Vladimir Popov has always provoked and still does provoke genuine interest to his works from professional and amateur audience alike from around the world», said Irek Sharipov, Director of the People’s Friendship House of the Republic of Tatarstan, «it is a unique phenomenon: a white Russian artist becoming so proficient and prolific in the realm of contemporary Islamic religious culture. He is the man we are indebted to for an immense contribution to Oriental culture, the man that helps unite all the diverse nations of our country».

Islamic Calligraphy Exhibition in Tatarstan