M. Quraish

The vibrant color combinations in Quraish's dreamlike works draw us into an exciting world, a secret universe filled with mystical sounds rooted in the cultural history of Iraq, where the artist was born in 1966. Quraish finds inspiration in the mosaic decorations of the five-thousand-year-old temples of Babylon, once the center of Mesopotamia. He reimagines ancient motifs, breathing new life into them. According to Quraish, ancient myths passed down through generations are still very much alive. He translates them into his own modern, abstract style. “I find the primitive world far more interesting than our own,” says Quraish. “This inspires me to seek out the works of primitive ancestors.” His work makes clear that he also references African ancestry, evident from influences like African wood carvings, masks, decorations, and symbols. These symbols strongly remind him of ancient Mesopotamian visual fragments from his homeland, with which he creates a high-level poetic abstraction. To achieve the desired effect, Quraish uses a refined technique and various materials, including metal, wood, paper, and glue, completing his pieces with oil or acrylic paint and sometimes even rust to achieve the right colors. For more antique and translucent shades, he opts for watercolor. Shortly after graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts in Baghdad in 1994, Quraish was compelled to leave his homeland. His first exhibition was held in Spain in 1992, followed by shows in Iraq, Tunisia, the Netherlands, France, and Germany.