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Welcome address of the Deputy Minister of culture of the Russian Federation Andrey Busygin
President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev has recommended to abstain from entertainment today. He is absolutely right, I guess. Russia is a secular society, but we shall pay tribute to our spiritual leader and well-known political figure His Holiness Alexis II Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. I for one am sure that His Holiness would be happy to be present at our today’s event, because a calligraphy museum is a major cultural and, I should say, spiritual event in our life. The museum is unique indeed and the Ministry of Culture would like to thank those people who decided to open such a museum. I would like to sincerely thank all those who put the beautiful idea into life, who established relations with countries and artists working in those countries, who invested money… all without government taking part in it. What we see now is the rebirth of a good tradition when the businessmen take part in the cultural life of the country. Such traditions flourished in the 19th century, but unfortunately were cut in 1900-s.
I had a pleasure to see the exposition that is deeply spiritual and at the same time very timely, because at our digital era machines deform the scripts, they can not convey the “soul” of what is written by hand. The European alphabet – the Latin alphabet – only has 26 letters, but these letters describe everything: tears and laughter, all emotions a human may feel. Cartoons come to my mind. Computer cartoon can not shine with all the colors, so as the machine fonts can not convey such emotions that only a human can feel. It is very good that in your museum there are not only calligraphy works, but also the comments of the masters that contribute to the whole exposition.
I would like to greet all of you and to deliver the warm words of the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Alexander Avdeev whose busy schedule couldn’t allow him be here tonight. But I cam assure that the Ministry of Culture will undoubtedly cooperate with thosewho put their hearts and souls in the exposition
Their feelings about the exposition “Mystery of the world calligraphy” shared different representatives of foreign countries.
Nyamaa Chimeg, the Second Secretary of the Mongolian embassy in Russia:
Nyamaa Chimeg
First of all, I would like to thank the organizers who invited me to this solemn ceremony. Frankly speaking, I’ve been to such events very long ago and I was simply astonished with all I have seen here – it is beautiful. All these pictures, sketches and images are the products of definite nations. That is why all these calligraphy works bear the national peculiarities. I’ve just spoke to Mr. MERGEN (Khasbaatar Mergen the First Secretary of the Mongolian embassy in Russia) about the Mongolian calligraphy when we write letters from top downward. Lately the calligraphy in Mongolia was gaining popularity among the young people. I would like to comment on the word “serkh” (wind) written on one of the works. See how the master showed the wind in this word. Though it is a text, you get the impression that it is the wind drawn. In the other picture you see the word “sky”, but you can also imagine this combination of letters as the sun, atmosphere or universe. Calligraphy is such an art that bears not only beautiful words and handwriting, but also depicts the environment we live in. Let me one more time thank you for the opportunity to enjoy your neat museum, and I hope for fruitful cooperation
Hasan Al-Dabbas, Adviser on cultural affairs of the Jordan embassy:
Hasan Al-Dabbas
In this amazing art gallery I’ve seen many famous and beautiful pictures. In Jordan calligraphy has very deep roots. In their works calligraphers reflect our world, Islamic world view. Arabic calligraphy is one of the perfect art in the contemporary world, this art counts thousands of years. I would like to thank the organizing committee and the head of the project for the opportunity to be here tonight. Thank you for you included the works of the Jordan and Palestinian calligraphers in your museum. In the future we are going to promote your project in Russia, and we are planning to invite other Muslim calligraphers who will lend their works to your museum. Besides, we can support your efforts in contacting Arabic embassies in Russia and foreign countries
Khalid Miaree, Adviser of the Palestinian embassy:
Khalid Miaree
First of all, thank you very much for your invitation! It is an honor to be here tonight. We highly appreciate the work of all the artists represented here, and we take it as the cultural part of life. And as far as it is the true art, these letters are the expressive means that shows what we say, how we say it and under which conditions we say it. We are happy to see here many beautiful works that give joy and happiness. So much soul was put in all these works. We are proud that the representatives from Palestine are present at your project. And though only one Palestinian calligrapher participates in this exhibition, but some of his works have enriched this exposition.
Arabs and Muslims value very much the art of calligraphy. To begin with, let us take the Qur’an: there are many ways of writing this Holly Book and every master tries to write it his own, the most beautiful, way. In the whole world there are lots of Qur’an samples which are themselves cultural and historical monuments. They are kept in Arab countries, in Russia and bear the millenary history of the Arab history which is saying something
Source: International Exhibition of Calligraphy
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