SHEKASTEH SCRIPTS

Yadollah Kaboli is widely regarded as a master of the Shekasteh style, a distinctive form of Persian calligraphy that developed partly from the Nastaliq tradition. The word Shekasteh literally means “broken”, referring to the style’s characteristic turns, twists, curves, and bends, in which letters and words flow together to form a continuous and rhythmic composition.

While its fluidity gives Shekasteh a distinctive visual beauty, the script can also be highly complex and difficult to read. Kaboli’s mastery lies in balancing legibility with the expressive movement of the line, transforming writing into an almost abstract visual language.

Born in Khansar, Iran, in 1949, Kaboli received his first mastery certificate from the Iranian Calligraphers’ Society in 1989. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Society of Iranian Calligraphists and holds a first-degree art certificate. Throughout his career, he has…