A Dialogue with Kurdish Artist Shams Sherwani

Nemat Sharif | Exclusive to iKurd.net

Interviewed by Nemat Sharif

The main catalyst for the arts of all kinds is the humanistic tendency to express oneself. Thus giving his deeper feelings and thoughts a form that is visual, vocal or written in a language of his time, as means to deliver those creations and ideas to others.

Since the artist moves through personal, national and all-human levels, he is expressing his culture as part of his environment. At the same time he expresses his human dimension as part of his people and of humanity as a whole.

Always, the artist draws his ideas and feelings mainly from his sense of creativity and interaction and his environment to crystallize his own vision to motivate him and push him to start a flood of colors and expressions that draw him to his environment and culture in particular and all humanity in general.

Thus, by nature he represents a window not only to his ‘heart’ but also to his community as a whole. The great role of the artist is in his quest to develop his society and move humanity forward as highlighted by his or her work. With this quick introduction, let’s welcome the inspiring Kurdish artist Shams Sherwani and thank him for giving us the opportunity to enjoy this dialogue…

Born and raised in Baghdad, Shams Sherwani is of the 1970’s generation. He graduated from the Fine Arts Academy in Baghdad in 1977. He is a steadfast Fayli Kurd despite the anguishes of politics of his time…

Q: Who is the artist Shams Sherwani, and how do you introduce yourself to readers?

Shams Sherwani: I was born in Baghdad and graduated in 1977 from the Academy of Fine Arts and was ranked first in the Academy. I then received a PhD scholarship and was accepted in the United States of America.

However, before finishing my master’s, then the Iraqi Government cancelled the scholarship because of my ethnic background. With persistence, I eventually finished my master’s degree in graphic arts from the Pratt Institute in New York.

Q: How were your beginnings with art and was there any motive for choosing painting as a discipline for your studies and as a profession later?

"One God" a painting by Shams Sherwani — “One God” a painting by Shams Sherwani, U.S. Photo: Nemat Sharif/Handout to iKurd.net.

Sherwani: My talent for painting emerged in the early years of my life. I remember I painted with chalk a scene on the primary school blackboard while I was in the first grade. The painting was from the history book for sixth graders. My ability to draw and paint was a talent I possessed from a young age that stemmed from deep within me.

Q: From the world of discrimination, harassment and persecution to the world of freedom of thought, expression and life, how do you reconcile two different visions and cultures in your art and your distinctive paintings and in life in general?

Sherwani: The artist, whoever he may be, has a difficult life, especially if he is in a society of which the majority strives to survive. If the majority of the society enjoys a decent living, the artist will of course do better, as he/she will focus on and be creative in his production and intellectual endeavors.

Q: Do you feel a sense of belonging to a particular school of art, and what is your vision of art and its human mission in our time?

Sherwani: For me, I believe that the art in all its schools is able to send its expressive message to inspire easily and without difficulty. The art school that I think serves my message is a mixture of academic and symbolic schools. I believe that humanism and humanitarian issues represent all peoples and groups of society.

Humanism is the most important starting point for highlighting its issues positively or negatively. At the present era, as we see the world is getting smaller, its problems grow bigger and they represent on the same scale the small and large blocs in the various regions of this world in which we live.

"Halabja" a painting by Shams Sherwani, U.S. — “Halabja” a painting by Shams Sherwani, U.S. Photo: Nemat Sharif/Handout to iKurd.net

Q: Have you participated in art exhibitions or held exhibitions for your paintings? Tell us a little bit about your favorite shows and paintings?

Sherwani: As for exhibitions I have held, they were mainly in the United States, Canada and my last exhibition was in Virginia, USA in the fall of 2019.

My paintings have reached many countries in Europe, North America and the Middle East. My favorite painting is “Man Rips Himself” or Earth Chronicles.

Q: One last word you would like to address the readers and art lovers?

Sherwani: When a man serves others with his artistic abilities, whoever he is, he is at the same time serving his country, his people and all humanity. From this point of view, we see that the artist has a major role in relating his artistic mission to the service of humanity.

Nemat Sharif, a political analyst, a contributing writer and columnist for iKurd.net.

The opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of iKurd.net or its editors.