“Disjoined Letters”: A rare exhibition of calligraphy
Yanthi Rajap-Lebbe creating art from Arabic style script. Pix by Indika Handuwala
It was beautiful. Historical. Artistically subtle in a way that science can’t capture.” Apple’s co-founder the late Steve Jobs passion for calligraphy resonated throughout his 2005 commencement address at Stanford University.
The art of calligraphy made a big impact on this billionaire tech mogul’s life’s work. He embedded his knowledge of inscription which he learnt from Trappist monk Robert Palladino at Reed College, USA into the first Macintosh computer. “It was the first computer with beautiful typography” he was quoted as saying.
Giving a platform to this rare art form in Sri Lanka, Yanthi Rajap-Lebbe will present her calligraphy at her exhibition “Disjoined Letters” at the Sapumal Foundation on December 18, 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
‘’Calligraphy in a highly digitalized world is not a lost or a dying art, but a rarity,’’ Yanthi affirms. It’s a captivating experience watching a calligrapher at work – the fluid motions made with their broad tipped pens and brushes.
“Calligraphy has a sense of sophistication,” she informs us. Her style encapsulates black, white and red – also reflected in her attire that afternoon. The use of the darker colours also reflect her emotional state, she shares.
The artist lays out her instruments on the table from the Bokuteki by Kuretake ZIG ink she uses to her collection of brushes, pens and DalerRowney acid free sketching pad. Seeing our questioning faces, Yanthi laughs, “I’m very particular about the quality of my work,” adding that these products ensure that her paintings will not fade over time.
“My mom was my first teacher who taught me how to paint,” Yanthi shares. Her mother would paint “beautiful botanical paintings” but it was calligraphy that piqued Yanthi’s curiosity – immediately driving her to try her hand at the craft. Having learnt Arabic from the tender ages of 5 or 6 years and coming from a “very artistic family” Yanthi shares that she saw calligraphy everywhere she went. Throughout her travels to England and the Middle East, calligraphy made its impact.
Yanthi who specializes in a ‘Sini’ Arabic style script of calligraphy will be exhibiting a range of work of individual letters – “Muqatta’at”.
Her exhibition Muqatta’at” – meaning “Disjoined letters”, are “isolated” or “mysterious”letters derived from the Quran. Yanthi wished to highlight their origins or “how some letters got into the Quran.” “I was always curious about how some letters came into being and also the beauty of the Arabic language.” The language “spoke to her”she muses.
You do not need to know the language to appreciate the art. “As an artist you absorb a lot of things from your surroundings. I’ve had a lot of feelings,” which she has painted into her calligraphy which will perhaps reflect a story that others could also relate to, she says.
“There are layers to how things come into being,” she adds.
Calligraphy is for visual enjoyment – the bold, fluid and somewhat playful aesthetic of the script speak of a thousand expressions in their style and execution.
“Disjoined letters” will mark Yanthi’s third exhibition to date. “Painting is a thing I like to do to release myself,” she says, adding that the “spirituality and “Zen”nature surrounding calligraphy draws her to it.
Yanthi who currently lives in Galle, has travelled all over the world. However she returned to her hometown 21 years later having lived there until she was 17.
“Disjoined Letters” will be open to the public from December 18 to 20 from 10 a.m. at the Sapumal Foundation, Colombo 07.