Hayv Kahraman

Artist statement

Born in a land that is ironically the cradle of civilization and presently the ultimate embodiment of human degradation, Iraq, I have of necessity inherited a host of issues that find expression in my work. Female oppression, honor killings and war continue to claim my attention. Filled with desire, I paint for redemption and salvation, hoping one day humanity will witness a profound change.

Technically, my work is primarily concerned with the “line”. Using sumi-e ink, detailed pen work and distinct two-dimensional tones of vibrant color on toned paper enable me to achieve a desirable depth in contrast and detail. Mainly portraying the female figure as transformed beings with prominent timeworn eyes dwelling in an ambiguous existence of despair, I reach out to my spectator for active interpretation.

The white figures with elongated necks represent an archetypical image of the swan. Graceful and elegant, they move through the landscapes of horror facing the calamities of male dominance. Where suffering is great, so is the need for transcendence.

Through an inherent childlike innocence in movement and form, in contrast with the harsh reality of war, these highly figurative yet two-dimensional personas represent the dichotomy of agony and gaiety, the duality of dreams and reality, peace and war. These surreal documentations of truth are the essence of my creative representation. Sweeping the audience into the eyes of my characters while simultaneously inversing the scene into a celebration of the various cultures in our world, I endeavor to refocus the felt pain into an investment in the human capability to overcome and prevail.