Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness
To pull another hand
into the light
|Jalal al-Din al-Rumi|
MASSOUD AHMED
Imaginings
Massoud was a student at the College of Fine Arts, Department of Painting, in Damascus, Syria when the civil war began in his country. He left his studies and this home and took refuge in a camp in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. His journey through loss and deprivation is reflected in his work, which was a vehicle he used to express this complex human experience. Many of his initial pieces were destroyed by the journey and weather during the first years. Yet, Massoud has continued to find ways and means to paint.
"I discovered my talent in the drawing when I was a child. I have been drawing on school benches and on the walls. One day I drew a drawing on the wall of our house in Syria, everyone liked it, they did not believe that I was the one who drew it! After seeing their admiration, I dreamed of becoming a painter one day.
We are proud to present the first virtual show of Massoud Ahmed, a fine artist from Syria who now lives in a refugee camp in Iraq.
In the camp, I practice my hobby despite my difficult situation, and I used to teach children how to draw for free. One day, I couldn't buy papers, so I cut a piece of cloth from the tent in which I was living, to draw a painting on it. I worked as a volunteer with an organization in the camp in teaching children and young people how to draw, and then they gave me a small income. I was also working in different jobs to make living for my family.
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In 2016 I enrolled in the Erbil College of Fine Arts, Department of Painting, in Iraq. In 2020 I graduated second in my class, and third in the college. Now, I aspire to study masters at a reputable university in a developed country if given the opportunity."