Syrian couple hold on to life with calligraphy

A Syrian couple, who migrated to Turkey and settled in Gaziantep due to the civil war in their country, are trying to make a living from calligraphy.

Muhiddin Najib Badenjki, a 70-year-old Syrian from Aleppo, started calligraphy when he was 13 years old.

He settled in Gaziantep with his 60-years-old wife Hasnaa Tahhan and his children after the civil war erupted in his country.

Badenjki, who also teaches his wife the arts of calligraphy and marbling in a single-room house, is trying to forget the bitter memories of the war together with his wife.

He had been giving calligraphy and marbling lessons for about 50 years in his homeland and now he gives free lessons to Turkish and Syrian students in Gaziantep.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Badenjki said he still pursues his art with excitement.

Noting that there are very good calligraphers in Turkey, Badenjki said: "Students also show great interest in this art. Turkish people value the art of calligraphy. They purchase my works of calligraphy."

Hasnaa Tahhan said that she started learning calligraphy and marbling arts from her husband in order to ease her sufferings.

Expressing her love for calligraphy, Tahhan said: "I loved the art of calligraphy when I was in my country. I was in love with the sound of the pen on the paper. I tried so hard to learn calligraphy, and eventually I became successful."