Hussein Kutlu is one of the most renowned representatives of the modern Turkish school of calligraphy. He was born in 1949 in the Konya province of Turkey. He studied at the Konya Imam Hatip schools in 1966-1967, and later at the Faculty of Literature at Istanbul University. It was during these times that he developed a passion for calligraphy and became an expert in the field. He served as an imam in various mosques in Istanbul. At the same time, he established his own school of calligraphy, teaching the secrets of the art to many young people.
Currently, Hussein Kutlu lives in his own Islamic Civilization Garden in the city of Istanbul. He established this garden with his personal initiative and the support of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The garden is designed in the direction of Sufism and Tariqah, containing symbolic indications. Trees representing the sacred elements of Islam are planted in the garden. Additionally, medicinal herbs are cultivated here. Birds mentioned in Farid al-Din Attar's “The Conference of the Birds” are also kept in this garden.
One of Hussein Kutlu's most significant works is the transcription of the Holy Quran based on the 1500-year-old traditions of calligraphy and book art. This new manuscript includes 10 volumes. It incorporates examples of calligraphy and book art styles and decorations from the time of our prophet (PBUH) to the early 20th century. Specifically, this ten-volume manuscript includes calligraphic samples and decorative designs from the Age of Happiness (the era when our Prophet lived), Umayyads, Abbasids, Samanids, Qarakhanids, Seljuks, Ghaznavids, Mamluks, Ottomans, Ilkhanids, Timurids, Safavids, Qajars, Afshars, Baburids, as well as years following the declaration of the Republic in Turkey.
“We worked on this manuscript for 8 years together with more than 60 of my students," says Hussein Kutlu. "We collected materials from various parts of the Muslim world for the manuscript. For instance, the paper of the manuscript also includes materials from the bark of trees grown in the holy places of Samarkand and Bukhara. Gold mixture inks were also used in the copy of the Quran,"
This copy of the Holy Quran was presented as a gift to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The last pages of the book contain praises and prayers dedicated to the President written in beautiful calligraphy in the Arabic alphabet. Copies of this manuscript have been reproduced and put on sale in Hussein Kutlu's special library.
Hussein Kutlu participated in a series of events over the week. He held meetings with Uzbek calligraphers and conducted skill classes. Moreover, he also exhibited the "Istanbul Mus'haf" created by himself and his students at a special exhibition.
