Top calligraphers from Russia, Norway, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Serbia, and Ukraine have presented their works at the Word Incarnate. Calligraphy: Text and Image exhibition that has opened in the new building of the National Library of Russia.
The exhibition is part of an international project, which aims to portray the world’s contemporary calligraphy heritage, continuity of national schools of beautiful handwriting, and cultural interrelations.
The exhibits reveal the link between tradition and innovation, featuring reputed master' chefs d’oeuvre and the work of the Master-Disciple training programme’s participants that convey the enduring artistic values of the written word. The youngest exhibitor is 7 years old and the oldest is 83.
The exposition is complemented by unique editions from the National Library of Russia holdings dedicated to the history of the art of calligraphy, such as: the Russian Calligraphic School by Ivan Mylov (1840), 30-page Calligraphy Sketchbook in Russian, French and German by M. Brief (1852), Manual for Lithographers, Engravers, Wordcutters, and Calligraphers by A. Ilyin’s Cartography School (1871).
Many pieces of art were created specifically for the event to be handed over to the National Library of Russia upon exhibition’s completion.
Calligraphy lectures and workshops for adults and children will be held within the framework of the event.
Calligraphy is the art of both ideal writing and an ideal soul.