Shad Kamaran, a young artist in Sulaimani city uses modern technology to draw portraits of historical Kurdish figures such as political leaders, poets and writers in styles of our time.
Kamaran, a graduate of the College of Arts, uses his graphic design skills and social media platforms to draw and publish his work.
His goal is to introduce historical Kurdish figures to the younger generation through means they best understand.
“Though many people understood my message, others criticized it on Facebook,” Karaman said in defense of his work. “They thought I was mocking such figures. But if you look at it thoroughly, the devices that the historical figure is shown using it is the same type of device all of us use.”
In one painting Sheikh Mahmoud who declared himself the King of Kurdistan in the early 20th century, is seen wrapped up in a coat and hat with headphones on. In another Kurdish poet Pira Merd is leaning over and typing into a laptop.
“I believe that if a figure like Pira Merd were alive, he would have had an account on Instagram and Facebook,” Kamaran said. “He would have published his poetry on social media. The same is true of other figures.”
Reporting by Ahmed Sangawi
