Playing the tar and writing calligraphy keeps Dr Mahkam Ghanbari of Gumdale Dentists in Gumdale, QLD, in touch with her Persian heritage
I started calligraphy at 10 years of age when living in Iran. I practised for years and was tested by the Society of Calligraphers where I received a certificate of excellence. There’s only one ranking higher than that—a Master of Calligraphy—but we emigrated to Australia before I could be tested.
“My calligraphy is based around traditional Persian poems. I’ve been practising the art for 23 years and it has changed a lot in that time. Instead of writing the words in a traditional form, it is now more like a painting. Words and colour are used to present the poems in a completely different way. Modern Persian calligraphy can change depending on how you feel and what you like.
“Working as a full-time dentist means that it can be hard to find the time to practise, but whenever I get the chance, I grab it. I prefer it if I can practise every day purely because practice makes perfect.
“I’ve had some of my calligraphy displayed at an art gallery in Brisbane. They had pieces from all around the world with fantastic examples from England, China and Persia. When I know an exhibition is on the horizon, it motivates me to spend more time on my calligraphy and to get the work done. Calligraphy is not as time consuming as painting. A nice piece of calligraphy can be completed in two hours. I give a lot of my work away to friends.
“When I was 18 years old, I started learning how to play a traditional Persian instrument called the tar. I joined a private tar class while studying at university and I’ve been playing for about 15 years. The tar is often called the mother of Persian instruments and is extremely difficult to learn. You need to practise every day and definitely need a professional tutor. In fact, even my tutor has his own tutor.
“I have some Persian friends who all play different instruments and we occasionally get together to play, eat and catch up. There’s nothing too serious about these music sessions; it’s more fun than anything else. I do plan to eventually join one of the Iranian bands but that’s a long-term goal.
Dentistry is a stressful job—I find that tar and calligraphy are good ways to clear my mind and unwind. In fact, they’re like two very different kinds of meditation. I can’t imagine ever stopping either pursuit.
