Aghighi Bakhshayeshi is one of the only professional female calligraphic artists working in Iran today, using conceptual calligraphic writing as an art form. Inspired since a young age by the beauty and variations of Persian letters, the artist’s upbringing and social surroundings have allowed her to persistently absorb and devote her practice to advancing the traditional art form with a contemporary, universal appeal.
Exploring the variations of Persian letters, notably through Kufi script, Aghighi has a background graphic design; a descendent of the famous court calligrapher Mirza Karim Khoshnevish Tabhari, she studied at university under the renowned calligrapher Nasrollah Afjehei. Choosing to express the beauty of her works in a non-literal way – viewers can appreciate the aesthetics of her art as a purely contemporary visual work.
Of her work the artist says, “These writings are whispers in my mind that do not mean too much, like a meditation. Sometimes they could be poetry, prayers, or just a conversation. Iam not trying to convey spirituality with my writings. Speaking only one language creates a barrier between me and the viewer if they do not speak the same language. I am hoping to reach out to a broader audience with my art as a universal message.”
Aghighi’s works can be found in collections such as the British Museum, London; Islamic Museum, Malaysia and Riyadh; among others.