Reza Mafi, Calligrapher

Reza Mafi despite his short life, played a significant role in establishing the tradition of calligraphic painting in Iran. He was born on December 26, 1943, in Mashhad. In his youth, he studied calligraphy under the supervision of Jalal al-Din E’temad.

From 1959 to 1963, he frequently traveled between Mashhad and Tehran and eventually migrated to Tehran in 1965. In Tehran, he became a student of Master Seyyed Hossein Mir-Khani at the Calligraphers Association and continued his calligraphy studies.

Mafi, influenced by the calligraphy of Mirza Gholamreza Esfahani and Mirza Mohammad Reza Kalhor, attracted the attention of art critics and enthusiasts with his participation in the “25 Years of Iranian Art” exhibition at the Iran Bastan Museum in 1967. Having mastered traditional calligraphy and being familiar with painting, he sought to elevate his art, gradually leaning towards calligraphic painting. This was a time when great calligraphy masters in Iran, such as Ali Akbar Kaveh, Hasan Zarrin-Khat, Seyyed Hassan Mir-Khani, and Seyyed Hossein Mir-Khani, were alive and emphasized adherence to the principles of calligraphy within the Calligraphers Association.

During this period, “Saghakhaneh” artists were also incorporating Persian calligraphic elements into painting. However, Mafi did not believe in the decorative aspects of calligraphy in “Saghakhaneh” works and instead embraced the aesthetic principles of calligraphy in painting. Alongside other artists like Faramarz Pilaram, Mohammad Ahsaei, and Nasrollah Afjahi, Mafi attempted to integrate calligraphy principles into painting, focusing on making calligraphy the main element of his work rather than merely decorative. He pushed the boundaries of tradition to the extent that his calligraphic works became prominent and showcased.

His profound understanding of tradition, his mastery of intricate details, the elegance, and beauty of Iranian calligraphic heritage, along with his attention to innovation and contemporaneity, led him to experiment with new styles that garnered significant attention both in Iran and abroad. Notably, his exhibition in Paris in 1973 drew the attention of important critics worldwide.

Besides his valuable experiences in graphic design, Mafi participated in the “50 Years of Iranian Graphics” exhibition at the Mehrshah Gallery in 1976.

In the TV series “Hezar Dastan,” instead of Jamshid Mashayekhi, who portrayed Reza the calligrapher, Mafi wrote the calligraphy pieces. He even had his hands decorated for the role, and his calligraphy was featured in the film. Tragically, Mafi passed away on September 25, 1982, during the filming of this movie, like Shahrokh Ghasemi, succumbing to an accident while filming.

Two years after his death, Mafi, who had inscribed Sohrab Sepehri’s tombstone, passed away. Mohammad Ahsaei wrote Mafi’s tombstone inscription. Despite his significant achievements in calligraphy and his role in reviving Mirza Gholamreza’s style in contemporary times, he did not want to remain a mere imitator of the past. He played a remarkable role in shaping the avant-garde movement through a remarkable transformation in the artistic sphere.

Although Reza Mafi lived only 39 years, his profound influence on subsequent artists and his works set a standard for visual richness and qualitative evaluation of calligraphic painting.