" My work brings me personal peace and revelations. Art is a trigger for emotions. With words and maxims, the brain is guided. "
LALEH
LALEH MOSTOFI
Calligrapher Artist, Livarot Pays D’Auge (14)
Laleh shares her experience, her rich and complex story: her journey toward calligraphy
Tell us your story, how did you find your calling?
I was born in Iran, the land of great master calligraphers. This art is part of my culture, but I did not study it formally. I am self-taught.
I have had diverse professional experiences in my life. After my university studies at the Sorbonne, I very quickly left the corporate world, seeking more freedom in my professional practice.
My life experience is rich because I am part of a generation of the "uprooted."
I left Iran following the Islamic revolution at the age of 12. My home country endured 8 years of war (against Iraq). My adult life in Paris has had its ups and downs. Like many others, I wonder about the meaning of life.
I am now a therapist in Paris. I guide my clients in search of well-being and wisdom through meditative reflection.
It was in the practice of my profession that calligraphy imposed itself upon me as an obvious choice.
The messages I calligraph are a continuation of my work as a therapist.
My creations offer the observer "mental training." Each message is a theme for meditation.
How would you describe your style and your artistic approach in a few words?
In the field of personal development, the process of transforming the mind is a long one. It requires the anchoring of new principles and convictions.
Repetition is a very powerful anchoring technique. The repeated writing of words and maxims resonates in the mind like mantras and opens up a world of possibilities.
My work personally brings me peace and revelations. Art is a trigger for emotions. With words and maxims, the brain is guided.
It reacts without bias. It is very powerful. Regarding existential questions, I like the idea that my creations can reveal things.
As for my style, it is entirely personal. I do not come from an art background. I have not studied calligraphy. I describe my work as "non-academic" and "free."
I have my own references in terms of calligraphy (notably Persian). I really like Japanese art in general and minimalism. I have always been fascinated by beautiful scripts (Latin and Persian).
By interlocking and layering the messages, reading them sometimes requires more attention. I quite like this game!
I am constantly looking for a balance between the harmony of the letters and a composition that feels coherent to me. It is easy to fall into scribbling!
Beauty is an essential principle in my work.
What themes or subjects inspire you most in your work?
I practice calligraphy. Therefore, there is no "theme" as there might be in painting, for example. The themes in my work relate to the subjects I address.
All existential values and human qualities inspire me. These are, of course, the subjects I discuss with my clients as a therapist. My messages are often very simple.
I write them with a particular "attention" to give them more strength.
Lately, I have been working on "series," notably "wisdom" and "love," which are fascinating themes. These are complementary messages in small formats.
The whole forms a more complete reflection on the subject.
How do you work?
I work behind a desk. It could be in Paris, in Normandy, or in Tehran.
I draw my inspiration primarily from my reading, across various fields such as classical French literature, philosophy, psychology of course, and finally Persian poetry. I have several notebooks where I jot down ideas, phrases, or quotes.
I always read with a pencil in hand.
I choose a word or a phrase. I practice writing it by repeating it. It is very soothing.
This is the first stage of my work where I try to possess the words, to appropriate them mentally but also in their sometimes distorted form.
I play with the letters, in 2 or 3 languages: French, English, and Persian.
I then adopt a form of writing, and once mastered, I wait for the creative moment to call me.
I then have a ritual. I spread out on my table all my notebooks, my calligraphy markers, brushes and India ink, my drawing paper in all formats, my writing drafts, and a few older creations.
And then I begin!
Do you have a particular technique or specific expertise? Without revealing all your secrets, have you developed your own methods and techniques?
I use calligraphy markers a lot because they give me more creative possibilities, for example in the layering of words. I obviously use India ink with different brushes (even paint brushes). The calligraphy "ghalam" is not suitable for my current work. I write quickly. This rhythm is not possible with it.
I use Canson paper. I don't use the paper for stylistic effects. What matters to me is the substance (the message) and the harmony of the composition.
My expertise is my handwriting. It is my singularity.
Tell us about your daily life, your constraints, your joys, your successes…
My daily life is divided between my work as a therapist, my family life, and my artistic activities.
I take care of my mother a great deal. Family is my source of joy (and sometimes sadness).
I split my time between Paris, Normandy, and the Île de Ré. I love nature and dream of moving to the countryside. I travel to Iran twice a year. It is very inspiring for me. In Tehran, I work from my father’s office (who has been gone for a long time now), which we have kept. There, I experience intense emotions, a mix of pride, nostalgia, and sometimes even sadness. I return from these trips very inspired and always with many questions about the meaning of my life.
As for success, for me, it means being bold and undertaking things in life, living through different experiences. Which I have done. I therefore consider that I have had a successful life so far!
A message to convey, anything else you would like to share?
My message aligns with what I just said! Embrace boldness and do not be afraid of life.
What must be avoided above all else is regret.
