Sülüs Karalama 

Curator: Here we have a drawing by Sheikh Hamdullah, known as "Sülüs Karalama," created with ink on paper. It's quite striking, isn’t it? What impressions does it give you? Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by the elegant chaos. It feels both intensely focused and wildly free at the same time, as if the artist were having a conversation with the divine on paper, all swirling lines and controlled curves. Curator: Precisely. As a master calligrapher of the Ottoman period, Hamdullah reformed Ottoman calligraphy. This particular work exemplifies the Sülüs style, which is known for its curved lines and complex compositions. The intention was not just to convey information but to also create a visual manifestation of devotion and mastery. Editor: So each stroke isn't just a letter, it’s a prayer, a breath. I see how the organic pattern, this dance of ink, echoes through Islamic art, where abstract forms replace representational images to symbolize the boundless and ineffable. Is that right? Curator: Absolutely. You've captured the core essence. The cultural memory embedded in these forms connects to a long history of devotion and scholarship. Imagine the years of training required to achieve this level of fluency and grace! Editor: It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? About the discipline, but also about the moments where that discipline gives way to inspired improvisation. I bet Hamdullah wasn't aiming for mere legibility here but to convey deeper meanings, emotions through these sophisticated visual forms, right? Curator: Indeed. The composition might look spontaneous, even casual - “karalama” translates as something like “scribbling” or “drafting” after all. It gives the sense of working, practicing but of course, in Hamdullah’s hand, we recognize an intention of elegance and sophistication in his design. Editor: So, in this dance between discipline and inspiration, faith and art, it transcends simple communication, turning script into something profound. Curator: Yes, that's what resonates with me too – this tension and interplay. It makes this calligraphy not just something to read but something to experience, something truly transformative.