Curator Conversation: The Art of Beautiful Writing - Calligraphy Then and Now

Once a vital and celebrated craft, calligraphy was more than mere decoration; it was a dynamic beautification of the written word used practically, artistically and symbolically. The art of commissioning, making and presenting certificates and illuminated addresses as signs of respect and appreciation has a long history, but now the people that deserve them have become rare, and the skills to create them with it... however, there are still those around who maintain the tradition of calligraphy. Calligraphy endures not as a relic, but as a reminder of how we once chose to mark value, memory, and gratitude.

About the presenter

Brodie Taylor JP (Qual), BCRA (Hons), FRSA, FSAScot, FLS, FIML, GAICD, is a curator, artist, and practicing scribe based in Queensland. With a background in creative arts and a long-standing interest in calligraphy, he works across both contemporary and traditional forms of visual culture. He currently serves as Curator of Arts and Exhibitions at the University of Southern Queensland and maintains an active interest in the preservation of handwriting, illumination, and ceremonial documentation.