Saddam Jumaily
Saddam Jumaily (born Saddam Al Saeedi in Basra, Iraq, 1974) is a painter and sculptor with a significant following in his country, where he is known for works that use symbolism to deal with memory and nostalgia.
From 1999-2000 Jumaily studied for a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts (Painting) at Basra University College of Fine Arts, Iraq, where he also completed an MA. He later became a respected lecturer at the university, where his thinking and art was much valued by his students.
In 2010 Jumaily began to receive death threats from religious fundamentalist groups both from within the university and outside. He was accused and persecuted for purportedly advocating atheism. He was forced to leave Iraq for Jordan, but returned a year later. After several incidents and deaths in his circle, he was forced to flee the country for Amman, Jordan, where he continued his artistic work under highly precarious circumstances. With the help of AR, Saddam and his wife Kholod relocated to Finland, where they are currently based. Together they are the inaugural artists-in-residence at the new AR-Porvoo Art Factory Residency at Taidetehtaan taiteilijaresidenssi.
As well as being a respected painter Jumaily is both an editor and writer and has worked for several publications in Iraq, as well as for other Arab-language newspapers and magazines.
Arriving with his wife the textile artist Kholod Hawash their first stop at AR was at the Saaren kartano – Saari residence, funded by Koneen Säätiö – Kone Foundation in Mynämäki, Southwest Finland, as part of the joint AR programme with Saastamoisen säätiö – Saastamoinen Foundation Residency in Helsinki.
They continued as part of the longer-term AR-ICORN Safe Haven Helsinki Residency. This programme is curated by Perpetuum Mobile – PM and hosted at AR-Hietsun Paviljonki. It is funded by the Department of Culture and Leisure of the City of Helsinki.
With the City of Helsinki becoming a member of the International City of Refuge Network (ICORN), one AR-Residency per year is designated as an AR-ICORN Residency, forming an integral part of AR-Safe Haven Helsinki’s longer-term-stay programme.
Along with his wife, Jumaily has recently relocated to Porvoo, Finland, where together they became the inaugural artists-in-residence at the new AR-Porvoo Art Factory Residency at Taidetehtaan taiteilijaresidenssi.
Related on AR:
Welcoming Saddam Jumaily to AR Saari Residence/Saastamoinen Residency
Saddam Jumaily welcomed to new AR-ICORN Residency in Helsinki
Event: Panel talk at the World Village Festival—Saddam Jumaily and AR Co-founders
Saddam Jumaily: PM MOBILE Talk at Galleria Rankka
Participation in AR PAVILION HELSINKI – MASS MEMORY MACHINES
Participation in AR’s #RiskandRebellion Symposium and Concert, January 2021 : https://artistsatrisk.org/2021/01/28/riskandrebellion-participants-33-34-kholod-hawash-and-saddam-jumaily/?lang=en
Inaugural Artist-in-Residence at AR-Porvoo: Welcoming the AR-Porvoo Art Factory Residency at Taidetehtaan taiteilijaresidenssi to the AR-Network
External Links:
www.saddamjumaily.net
Kholod Hawash & Saddam Jumaily: Äitini nimi – My Mother’s Name at Galleria Ars Libera, Kuopio, autumn 2020
Saddam Jumaily formed part of Galleria Rankka’s 5-year anniversary exhibition winter 2020
Saddam Jumaily is an AR-ICORN Safe Haven Helsinki Resident hosted at AR-Hietsun Paviljonki. The AR-Network is curated by Perpetuum Mobile (PM), coordinated by the AR Secretariat and co-funded by Kone Foundation. AR-Safe Haven Helsinki is funded by the Department of Culture and Leisure of the City of Helsinki.
Jumaily was previously an AR Resident at AR-Saari Residence funded by Kone Foundation in Mynämäki, Southwest Finland, as part of the joint Artists at Risk (AR) programme with Saastamoinen Foundation. Together with Kholod Hawash, he continues as a resident of the new long-term AR-ICORN Safe Haven Helsinki Residency.
