An article by Mian Naeem

The Pakistan Calligraph-artists' Guild (PCG) was founded in 1997 to promote and preserve the millennium-old tradition of calligraphy. The traditional art form was under a serious threat after the introduction of computers in the print media and advertising industry. It left a large number of calligraphers jobless, which resulted in a decline in the number of practicing professionals.
The idea to establish an organization was conceived by Athar Tahir who has a great passion for oriental art. Eminent artists, like Ahmed Khan, the late Askari Mian Irani, Sufi Khursheed Raqam, Ustad Irfan Khan, Ustad Ikramul Haque, Dr Shaukat Mehmood (Maxim) and Ayaz Ali, joined hands for the cause.
The first international exhibition by PCG, held in 1998, was highly appreciated by art professionals and art lovers. It encouraged the newly set up organization and the artists working in the genre, who were considered low profile craftsmen doing underpaid jobs. The interaction of local calligraphers with artists from various parts of the world helped them a great deal in enhancing their skills and creative abilities.
The calligraphic work by members of the guild at Data Darbar Mosque Complex, Lahore, in 1999, was one of the major projects to their credit. The artwork in an area of 2,363 sq ft, which was estimated at Rs 2.4 million, was completed voluntarily by the artists attached to the organization. It was followed by another project, calligraphic work at the tomb of Qadir Yar, a nineteenth century Punjabi Sufi poet, at Machhike, Hafizabad, volunteered in 2000.
'Calligraphy and Calligraph-art' and 'Bestower's Court' are its significant publications. It also publishes a bilingual newsletter regularly. PCG runs the only art gallery in Pakistan, dedicated to display and promote calligraphy and calligraphic art, at the Qaddafi Stadium Cultural Complex. The gallery also offers free training in traditional and modern calligraphy to young aspirants.
The guild organised four international and a large number of local exhibitions and workshops. "Our aim is to develop an institution, with a parallel thinking, for traditional arts and norms for the next generation and we are successful in our efforts, with the help of our committed volunteers", Ayyaz Ali, one of the founder members of PCG, said.

Author: (c) Mian Naeem
Art Critique
Lahore, Pakistan.