The Pakistan National Council of the Arts and the National Heritage & Culture Division opened “The Call of the Divine,” a Calligraphic Exhibition and Artist Talk at the National Art Gallery in Islamabad featuring the work of Razwan Baig, Shazian Baig and Shanzay Baig. The Calligraphy Exhibition presents a compact but rich display that brings together traditional scripts and contemporary approaches.
The show highlights Quranic verses alongside motifs of Pakistani culture, demonstrating how calligraphy remains a living art form. Members of the renowned Baig family have exhibited internationally and the exhibition underscores their shared commitment to both craft and cultural continuity.
Chief Guest Jamal Shah inaugurated the exhibition and praised the artists for their unique blending of tradition and innovation. He commended their dedication to the craft and stressed calligraphy’s power to convey spiritual meaning while contributing to Pakistan’s cultural preservation.
M. Ayoub Jamali, Director General PNCA, said, “Today’s gathering invites us to reflect on the enduring beauty of calligraphy and its role in uniting tradition with contemporary expression.” His remarks framed the exhibition as both a cultural celebration and an invitation to public engagement with Islamic art.
Razwan Baig is presented as a distinguished scholar, collector and researcher of Islamic art, noted for contemporary Kufic script works. He trained under master calligraphers from Turkey, Baghdad and Pakistan, and his collection has been shown at institutions including the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Shazian Baig is an Islamic artist, calligrapher and researcher who studied under eminent masters from Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. Alongside his artistic work he is studying medicine and contributes as a researcher for artefacts in the Barlas Collection, bridging academic research and practice within the Calligraphy Exhibition.
Shanzay Baig works as an Islamic artist, geometrist, sculptor, marbler and marquetry specialist inspired by historic Islamic monuments. Her practice merges traditional crafts with architectural inquiry, and she serves as the archival catalogue specialist for the Barlas Collection.
The exhibition runs from January 6 to January 8, 2026, open daily from 10 am to 4 pm at the National Art Gallery, Islamabad. Visitors to the Calligraphy Exhibition can expect intimate works that trace lines between heritage, faith and contemporary artistic practice.
