An overview of Calligraphy,An interview with Calligrapher Yadollah Kaboli Khansari

Oral History Office started its work in 1990s in Iran National Archive and was aimed to compile historical records through interview with contemporary authorities in different fields of science, art, politics and so forth. The article presents the result of an interview with calligrapher, Yadollah Kaboli Khansari, who discussed the historical development in callig­raphy in Iran. Khansari was born in 1328 solar year in Khansar City. He became familiar with calligraphy when he was a little boy and step by step he could learn the art from great masters of his time, such as late Sayyed Hasan Mirkhani. He tended to write in “Shekaste”, or “Broken” (A calligraphy style) after he was graduated from an advanced level course and was nomi­nated himself to launch such courses at professional level. Yadollah Kaboli Khansari is now a member of “Iran’s Calligraphy Society, Supreme Council for Evaluating Art”; an expert in National Heritage Org.; and an adviser to Minister of Cul­ture And Islamic Guidance. Khansari holds first degree Diploma in Art and has initiated numerous exhibitions inside and outside Iran. He has also many books in different styles of “Broken” calligraphy. The article has been prepared during 6 sessions of interview with Mr, Khansari in 2005, which cover 922 minutes.