Sattar Kawoosh

Sattar Kawoosh was born in 1963, in Baghdad, Iraq. He studied at the Academy of Fine Art in Baghdad from 1984 to 1990, and has a Visual Arts Diploma. Between 1986 and 1993 he held four solo exhibitions in Baghdad. At that time, in the early 1990s, his work included journalism and book illustrations. Many of his works have found their way into exhibitions across the globe. He left Iraq and settled in the Netherlands in 2001, continuing his commitment and passion for art, and having successful solo exhibitions over the next four years in Stichtung SCID, Rotterdam; Openbare Bibliotheek, Rijswijk,; Dokkum and Groningen galleries; in Enkhuizen and Utrecht; and in Hoogeveen. He is a painter of colours, rainbows and light. He is concerned to be true to his imagination and his art, and has said that “the more the creator is honest and truthful with himself and his art, the more he can achieve for his country and for the world. He manufactures beauty and makes it equal to the destruction that is going on.” This year, also, two exhibitions, “De Vingers van Kawoosh” in Ekhuisen and Rijswijk. “The Fingers of Kawoosh” is a collection of 23 paintings and 23 poems by Dutch poets. Poetry is very important for Sattar. In an interview with Yanabee magazine, he said: “The relationship of poetry with painting is a great and effective relationship. Most of my friends are poets, and most of the people who have influenced my life are poets. For me, poetry is another lung which helps my paintings to breathe when the palette is asleep. It suffices to remember the great relationships between Manet and Mallarmé; Apollinaire and Picasso, Max Jacob and Modigliani, etc.” The artist is at www.kawoosh-art.com

Front cover: Completness in Blue, 30 x 30 cms, acrylic on wood, 2005 Above left: A Woman with a Cloud, 30 x 30 cms, acrylic on wood, 2005 Left: A Kiss, 30 x 30 cms, acrylic on wood, 2005