"WE are using this opportunity to show your country and your people the masterpieces of Iranian calligraphy art. I know that only a small part of your society is familiar with this uncommon art, that is why I feel very happy as a cultural representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Bulgaria to show you some of the best Iranian calligraphy works. The art of calligraphy lies in the roots of the civilisation of Islamic Iran. I feel very happy that you are here now to meet a piece of our culture."

These were the words of Seyed Abdol Madgid Shafai, cultural attaché of the Iranian Embassy, at the opening of an exhibition on Tuesday at the Vitosha Gallery. Guests were met by Iranian artist Human Bastanfar, playing the traditional Iranian instrument the Santur.

There were samples of different scripts and not only on paper but also on silk canvasses and metal pots. Though it may not have been absolutely clear for some of the Bulgarian guests what every one of the 120 pictures showed and what the message was, it was clearly obvious for everyone that the works were masterpieces of Iranian art. They were hand-made pictures in the form of messages. Most of the texts were quotes from the Koran.

"The art of calligraphy goes back quite a long way. It had its origins 7,000 years ago. It appeared in its present form nearly 4,000 years ago. There are four basic kinds of calligraphy - Nastalieg, Shecaste navisi, Sols and Shecaste navisi and sols. All of them express in a different manner the same content. The main difference between them is hidden only in the shape of the pictures. Calligraphy illustrations are texts taken from the Koran. They can also express thoughts and pieces of wisdom. Texts from the Koran are mostly written using Nastalieg. There are many examples of calligraphy works at Iranian museums done in Sols. Shecaste navisi is the most common calligraphy style used in the Arabian countries," said Shafai.

"There is at least one institution in every Iranian town which provides an education of calligraphic art."

Hadjar Fiouzi, an assistant at the Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation of the Iranian Embassy, revealed the hidden secrets and the specific structure of Iranian calligraphy tradition.

During the reign of the Medes, the Iranians adopted the Babylon Cuneiform symbols and later they created the Avesta and Pahlavi scripts using Arami scripts. After the advent of Islam, various Arabic scripts such as Kufie, Mohaghegh, Reyhan, Thulth, Naskh, Toghi and Righa replaced the commonly used scripts of the prior periods and from then on the art of calligraphy began in Iran. Calligraphy is a tradition.

Writing and calligraphy played and still play an important role in protecting and propagating Iranian and Islamic sciences and cultures, and the Iranians had a major role in creating and improving the Arabic script.

The gallery is at 18 Vitosha Blvd. and the calligraphy exhibition is on until February 20.