Emad is a visual artist whose paintings have been exhibited around the world. He writes:
There’s a conflict between the unlimited happiness inside me and the oppression and grief I experienced years ago when I found myself as a part of the stupid adventures of political and economic wars that were imposed upon normal people. I paint a world that touches the unimaginable happiness that we need in order to lift ourselves up from the tragic reality of oppression and war.
My painting began with a question; Shall I choose to live in another world, a world that each one of us creates in his own way, or shall I die out of hunger, war and agony? I cannot be part of the problem, and I refuse to be a victim, but through my paintings I open a scene to a dancing party where I live in a sensational world, a world that we deserve. A world that grows like a snowball until it takes the biggest part of our life and emotions and eventually erases the idea of physical and emotional pain.
Emad was an established artist in Iraq known for his traditional paintings of Middle Eastern life, but his style changed when he came to the UK. Influenced by his new life in the city and his changing identity, his work is now more abstract and features bold colours.
In an interview with the Refugee Council, he refers to this new style;
‘I’m sometimes asked why I exhibit happiness when I come from a dark place. It’s because I’m looking to create happiness; I want to teach people how to smile. I won’t paint the blood or the killing; you can see that every day in the newspapers. I was a victim in Iraq, but I can’t accept myself as a victim forever. I can’t change the world, but I can help other people who are suffering to leave that aside for half an hour while they look at my paintings and feel like they’re dancing. People shouldn’t be victims forever; there is peace somewhere and we can find it.’
