The Bradford-based writer and artist, Razwan Ul-Haq, applies a wide range of experiential styles in his visual art work. In particular, his calligraphic art blends contemporary art with the minimalist tradition in Islamic Art – a resulting form that invites, in its deceptive simplicity, a personal reflection on its implicit symbolic or divine meaning.
Image: see artist’s website, below
In an interview in 2015 with ‘Islam and Science Fiction’ (see link below), Razwan said of his influences:
I must credit the contemporary Calligrapher Ahmed Moustapha for showing the world how traditional script and calligraphy can be used in exciting ways. Themes from the Muslim world are of interest to me and I am inspired by historic and contemporary Muslim interpretations of the cosmos. I find that there is a spiritual depth also in Japanese and Chinese Calligraphy. I have been posing questions regarding the Minimalist tradition in Islamic Art for a while now and I have been trying to converse with minimalism whilst composing calligraphy. Meditation and reflection is key to my calligraphy.
‘Ninety-nine names’. Image: see artist’s website.
Razwan is a graduate and post-graduate of the University of UMIST: Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. Following his post-graduate teaching studies, he taught at a senior level in schools and was a local authority education adviser before becoming a full-time artist and writer. He continues to teach on a freelance basis in schools across the UK and at community arts events, e.g. Cartwright Hall, Bradford, 2016.
Razwan was commissioned by Leeds City Art Gallery in 2006 to celebrate the presence at the Gallery of ten drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci, on loan to the Gallery from the Royal Collection to celebrate the 80th birthday of the Queen. He was also commissioned in 2014 to produce a large-scale land art work, Al Asr, the Time, for the Tour De France in Yorkshire (see image below). His work has also been exhibited at other regional events and venues, including the Wakefield Art Walk, Ilkley Literature Festival, and in 2016 as part of the memorial response to World War One exhibition at Cartwright Hall, Bradford.
Al Asr, the Time. Image: see artist’s website, below
Razwan has spoken on radio about his work and appeared on Teachers TV, and featured in the Ramadan Diaries series in 2013 on Channel 4. He is the author of Islamic Art – the Teachers Book as well as works of fiction, including The Calligraphy Pirate Series, Black Taj Mahal, and Sultan vs Dracula (see artist’s website, below).
Additional information about the artist:
Razwan talks about his work on You Tube
Read the interview with the artist at Islam and Science Fiction
Artists’ website:Ulhaq.com