Iraqi artist Mohammed Sami. by Ali Najjar

The young iraqi artist Mohammad Sami who is specialized to copy graphics, says: If the hobby draws all the attention, but at the same time you earned the fruits of your labour in form of success, what leads to that is the freedom to collective control and accomplishment. It probably traces back to the times of the leaders of the young history and their way to rule.

Under no circumstances you should loose the flame of passion for creativity and continuity. The passion of a real master of his kind, with sometimes parallel patterns. A wall of civil protest, seems to be like a youthful challange. At this point we do not want to forget to mention the seduction that has a curious way to be in balance with restrained motives. These Graffiti's, now we are naming them, are not hiding their provocative intention for the assignment of violance. It is he expression of colourful creatures that make us shiver. I do not think that the artwork of this artist is too surreal, even if we notice rapid recurrences.

Free of assignment, not important if crazy,suggestive or metaphysical we notice a approch of a violant akt. We want to express that violance is an important way of expression in his art. In many countries he impressed especially the young generation with it. It seems like a deviation of contemporary styles, sometimes confusing and sometimes unoriented. His early liberation of domestic influence leaded to the decision to be rather in dynamic movement than in stagnancy.

If we compare the graphics of Mohammad Sami with the art of iraqi artist Ala Bashir we find approach and deviation in direct presents. Ala, the surrealist, expresses his personal Being with the violated times of his country Iraq. Still, we can find once in a while a bird somewere in his paintings that stands as a symbol for the preservation of the spirit and peace of mind. The grafics convince the viewer and shows Mohammads austerity when it comes to input for nature. Single details, like for example birds,horses and human bodies, and even landscapes are in a constant balance and it seems like they are on a beautiful journey.

In a total contradiction with the artwork of Bechir. Even if the bird simbolizes for him „comfort“. There we have the opposite to Mohammads works, He rather supports the rellious influence. The artworks of both artists are interpretating the liberation as a important feature. The doors to a world where there freedom of speech is regular ,are wide open and both artists are keeping it in a productiv and artistic high level.

The way a suffering human is presented, touches the soul. It is not his purpose to make the human loose balance in his difficult situation, it is rather the opposite. He tries to escape from disaster. We can sense a slight direction towards the iraqi violence...the way he leads his brush is the soft answer to the brutal facts of his country Irak and the shock that people had to experience at that time. One more reason why birds and horses are a well adopted motiv to draw: they stand as a symbol for „his“ peace... The late artist Faiik Hassan used the horse as a synonym for the nomadic life in Irak. He used various elements that could help to express the force of expression, especially of the time in the youth. Even if the significance stays, it is almost not possible to live it, due to the situation in the country.

This form of art inspired Mohammad Sami for a long time. After he iberated himself from the influence of artists,students and admirer, he started to teach at schools. The philosophy he was teaching was the liberation of the dominance and bring balance into the physical state of mind. He did this in a very unconventional way. He was still artistic but expressed his art as a caroon rather then the serious way. A main issue for him was, to never forget the protest of the youth, because one fact is clear: In a healthy youth lies a good future for a country.... Mohammad Sami fascinates the viewer in two aspects. On one hand of course, to be able to express feelings through colours...and, to face the political aspect of his country with dynamic and respect.

(*) Mohammad Sami was born 1984 in Bagdad. He graduated at the Technical Institute in 2004. His work has been shown with three of his personal exhibitions and several joint contributions. The last one was together with the german artist Dr. Burkhard Eurlik and Reinhard Frotschwer. This exhibition was sponsored by the Surreal Art World Foundation, the Court Building,the Town Hall-Stuttgart,Germany 2008. Further to mention that he received several technical awards. He also founded and designed the Guinness Book of Iraqi Art for the Ministry of Culture, together with the web site of the Ministry of Culture. He immigrated to Sweden in 2007.

Ali Najjar (Malmo 2008)