Calligraphy stands as a true art form, a fact beautifully demonstrated in a current exhibition at the Jean-Gagnant Cultural Center in Limoges. Four accomplished calligraphers are presenting their works, each showcasing distinctly different styles while maintaining surprising connections to one another. The exhibition runs through October 17 and features artists Flora Aubrun, Aziz Stitou, Wei Feng, and Mohamed Mzidabi.
Flora Aubrun, who works under the artistic name Gryfonne, describes herself as a chameleon artist capable of creating across all styles, from classical and historical to contemporary approaches. This stylistic freedom allows her to explore various techniques, ranging from gold leaf application to illumination using egg tempera, a medium commonly employed during medieval times. Ink plays a significant role in her creations, often combined with modern materials that enable her to work with textures and create unique blends where grain effects contribute to the distinctive brilliance and coverage characteristic of her artwork. The artist writes her own calligraphed texts, arranging them according to layouts that are both rigorous and uniquely singular.
Aziz Stitou's calligraphy takes a gestural approach, stripped of conventional meaning, as he defines it. For him, preparation holds paramount importance, drawing nourishment from experience, nature, and personal feelings. "I transcribe all of this with Indian, Turkish, or Afghan music - wordless music that connects with my calligraphy," Stitou explains. "I believe meaning is often too present. We must step away from it to rediscover emotion in the gesture. The work builds itself, organizes itself. That's what I wish to convey." Stitou also works with letters, particularly Asian and Arabic characters, creating a fusion that has led him to develop his own unique writing system. His work represents a universal message that begins with the imprecision of creative magma and evolves toward the precision of strokes, with black ink emphasizing the final expression.
Wei Feng has developed his own calligraphic language, with writing concentrated on brush technique. For him, gesture proves essential, similar to the practice of qi gong, where the entire body participates and movement becomes arabesque. Wei considers the brush as an extension of the spine, with posture from tailbone to head embracing perfect geometry. Energy circulates throughout the body along an imagined column. For Wei, calligraphy represents the culmination of this energetic circulation that connects us to the universe, with its ultimate expression materialized on paper as a representation of our inner freedom.
Mohamed Mzidabi's Arabic calligraphy primarily focuses on gesture and spontaneous expression - something unexpected that builds gradually, leaving abundant traces of symbolism on canvas. Thick and thin strokes create an intricate web of lines, marks, and splashes that serve as question marks challenging our visual certainties. In these compositions, color serves as the envelope of a narrative that is simultaneously intimate and open to the world. This universalism can be found throughout the work of all four calligraphers.
The exhibition continues to draw visitors interested in exploring the diverse approaches to this ancient art form. Each artist brings a unique perspective while contributing to the universal language of calligraphy, demonstrating how traditional techniques can evolve and adapt to contemporary artistic expression.
