Words have a power of their own

Calligraphy Stirring words into motion is not as easy as fables deem. Words have a power of their own. And, light is an energy that transcends equations, logic and paradigms. Art in itself satisfies and accentuates most needs for equilibrium.
Julien Breton, aka Kaalam, had the desire, art and talent to paint, depict and bring to life his arbitrary letter’s methodology. He carved words and gave them aesthetic beauty to achieve an array of awards for beautiful words inked in pen and brought to life by light.
He recently won a prize at the International Urban-Arts Awards 2011 for Light-graffiti category and will be exhibiting his work in different galleries. He also won two Bronze Awards for the campaign “It’s our games” with JWT Riyadh in Saudi Arabia during the Dubaï Lynx International.
Originally from Nantes, France, Breton practiced calligraphy as a hobby not knowing he could ascend into the medium of virtual calligraphy using light and art. “I grew up in France in a multicultural environment in a low middle class,” explained Breton. “Calligraphy was very far of my environment.
As a result, he studied what most of us may have before discovering what we were deemed to do. “I began to study Audio-visual, and just after, I developed different cultural events. I was an event manager implicated in the fair-trade and solidarity and social economy,” he said.
Breton has a BTS in Administration and Management of audio-visual production. He always wanted to be a pianist but was scared by the outcome and practicality of being a sole musician. He is quoted to have said: “I decided I would stay kind of in orbit around this world, you know, staying near it but maybe a bit more hidden in the shadows.”
His imitation of contemporary Arabic calligraphy made him a superstar with sonic powers emitting light and brining him under the limelight this week.
“I discovered calligraphy 10 years ago through contemporary Arabic calligrapher Hassan Massoudy. I fell in love with Arabic calligraphy. But, since I don’t speak or write Arabic — even though I do some work in Arabic — I decided to develop my own Latin alphabet inspired by Arabic calligraphy. With this, I aim to build a bridge between East and West,” he explained.
“The bridge between East and West is really important for me. I try to mix these two different cultures often in one piece of work. For me, it’s a way to show that multiculturalism can exist in our world,” he added.
His sense of light, movement and aspiration derives from the light-graff process that implores a new level of creation. Self-taught incorporating the art of graffiti, he developed “Latin-based” alphabet. His calligraphy is extraordinary only because it moves, floats, lights and mesmerizes.
“I chose calligraphy because it’s a kind of art that allows you understand its meaning without knowing its economical and social background. Often, you can only understand a painting if you know the date, place and biography of the artist. Calligraphy, however, is understandable instantly. It ‘speaks’ to everyone without knowing all the ‘codes’ of art. I don’t come from the art world, so to me, art was often unintelligible. I chose this art from because you can easily express an emotion, word or sentence,” explained Breton.
Breton created an association related to organizing various events called “pick-up productions” that also incorporated cultural activities, video projects and screenings in Nantes. He also joined “scopic,” a cooperative group that manages graphics projects and events and is a median for communications and multi-media purposes.
“In terms of calligraphy, I’ve been working on that since 2001. But, it’s only been since about November 2008 that calligraphy has really ‘captured’ me, so much so that it really became impossible for me to combine my daily work and my passion for my art. As such, I am now working on my calligraphy full-time,” he said.
In 2009, Breton joined dance company CORTEX and visualized the need to incorporate his talent in the process of real-time virtual calligraphy. He continues to develop light calligraphy with verses, quotes and words stringed through a show that mixes dance and calligraphy. Also that year, Digital Slaves collaborated with him when they discovered real-time virtual calligraphy. Calligraphy from ink to light with hip-hop influences only mark Breton’s beginning into the creativity and fervor of art and culture.
Breton’s work is created on paper but transcends to photographs and is displayed in the virtual essence showcasing works of great writers and artists. His phrases and influences come from French artists and songwriters, combining the influence of the West with Middle Eastern geniuses. He delivers on the account of French rap and hip-hop artists and other legendary writers like Mark Twain. There is no barring landscape or medium he has not tried his hand at, from monuments to models.
“I admire different artists like Arabic calligrapher Massoudy’s aerial way, Julien Chazal and Denis Brown’s Latin calligraphy, Marko 93 and Graffiti Technica in their contemporary view of the urban art...  I’m also really inspired by contemporary street dance. The movement and spontaneity are really important for me, as I like when art lives. However, I also use different sentences from writers and thinkers — both contemporary and not — like Alexandra David-Neel and Edgar Alan Poe,” said Breton.
“I think that like a calligrapher is a witness of the different and important writings that passed history, I try be a witness of our times using light calligraphy and photography.”
Breton was featured in a book called “Arabic Graffiti” by Fromhere Tofame. He also took part in a collective exhibition, titled “Signs for Sound,” in Devon, England in September, along with different events at the end of the year. “I’m always working for my new light calligraphy with musicians and dancers,” he said.