The relationship between calligraphy, technology and artificial intelligence raises an important question: can a machine truly reproduce an art form that is deeply connected to the human hand, mind and emotion?
This question is explored in an article by journalist Zeynep Tinaz Redmont, published in Diário de Notícias on 6 October 2026, titled “Are Robots also Stealing Calligraphy?”
The article examines calligraphy as an artistic process in which repetition never produces exactly the same result. Even when the same letters or words are written repeatedly, each gesture carries subtle differences shaped by emotion, thought, movement and physical presence. These elements make every calligraphic work an individual expression.
The article also discusses contemporary calligraphic painting, where letters, geometric structures and colour are transformed into visual compositions. The use of Arabic and Persian calligraphic forms connects with geometric abstraction and, in some works, with the visual language and patterns of Portugal’s azulejo tradition.
The process can take days or weeks to complete, with the physical movement of the hand, repetition of forms and intuitive decisions becoming integral to the final artwork. Calligraphy therefore extends beyond the reproduction of written language, becoming a visual and physical process shaped by gesture, thought and emotion.
The article contributes to a broader conversation about the future of calligraphy, artificial intelligence and the qualities that distinguish human artistic expression.
Read the full article:
“Are Robots also Stealing Calligraphy?” — Zeynep Tinaz Redmont