Ritte Arnold Ross شاسوار ئەرنۆلد رۆز
Shwan Kamal
Biography
Shwan Kama attended The Institute of Fine Arts in city of Suleimaniyah between 1982 - 1987 and graduated with a first class diploma in sculpture. Subsequently, he obtained a place at Baghdad Academy of Fine Arts where he completed his bachelor degree in the same field in 1991. He then became a professional teacher at Suleimaniyah Institute of Fine Arts.
Following the civil war in 1994, Shwan decided to leave Kurdistan and migrated to Germany through Turkey and Greece until he was finally settled in the city of Duisburg and continued with his art works in Dusseldorf.
Due to family commitment, Shwan left Germany in 2015 and settled in the city of Malmo in Sweden where he continued his arts ambition.
Artistic Profile
Kurdistan:
• 1991: The statue of Tofiqi Karaba (Tofiq the Electrician) in the city of Halabja in Kurdistan Region of North Iraq who died during the chemical attack in 1988.
• 1992: The statue of Hama Saeed Andazyar (Hama Saeed the Engineer) in city of Suleimaniyah.
• 1993: The statue of the German journalist Gadgrus who was detained and executed in 1991 by the Baath Party Regime.
• 1993: The statue of Khala Haji at the Khala Haji roundabout in Suleimaniyah city.
• 1994: The statue of Bakhtyar Askari in Erbil.
Europe:
In 1995, Shwan Kamal joins a sculpture factory in the capital city of Greece – Athens where he produces some works. As he leaves Greece to Germany in the same year, he joins Raulf Kaizer factory and continues with his works. During 1995 – 2015, he works for some of the world-acclaimed sculpture artists and produces some sculptures such as the Tony Cegi, Thomas Shooter, Magdalena Abakanovci, Katarina Frici…etc. These works have been exhibited at museums, parks and public places across the world.
In addition to these, Shwan Kamal produced some of his own works which were later became a base for many projects and exhibitions in both Kurdistan and Europe.
20 years’ worth of experience helps Shwan Kamal to leave his footprint amongst the German artists. In the factory where he worked, he produces sculptures for some of the names and subjects which were destroyed and vanished during the Nazi occupation. And the same works have been displayed
at some of the well-known public places. Shwan proudly engraves his Kurdish name on these sculptures and this puts him in the spotlight across German media.
• 1999: The statue of the German composer Gustav Adolf Brown at North Park in the city of Fubertal – Germany.
• 2008: The statue of the knight Arnold Ross which displayed at Fubertal City Council building - Germany.
• 2009: The statue of Yustisia which is displayed on the right hand of the Fubertal City Council gate - Germany.
• 2010: The statue of ‘Truth’ which displayed on the left hand of the Fubertal City Council gate – Germany.
• 2011: The historical statue of ‘Help the Poor’ which is displayed at the Cathedral Park at the city centre of Fubertal – Germany.
• 2012: The statue of ‘Justice Fountain’ which is displayed at the Republic Park in the city of Fubertal – Germany.
• 2013: The statue of the world-acclaimed musician Philex Mendilson at the Dusseldorf Opera House – Germany.
• 2013: The statue of the German celebrity Peter Held also known as ‘Hosh Hosh’ which is displayed at a market in Fubertal – Germany.
• 2014: The statue of Angel which is displayed at the North Cemetery in Dusseldorf – Germany.
During his exile in Europe, Shwan has always had his thoughts with Kurdistan and thus has dedicated his time and efforts in order to transfer his knowledge to Kurdish sculptures. Due to the lack of interests from the Kurdish Arts Council and organisational issues, Shwan could not share his experience in Kurdistan. Nonetheless, he has managed to produce the following works:
• 2013: The statue of ‘Justice’ which is displayed at the gate of Erbil High Court – Kurdistan.
• 2014: The statue of the Kudish poet Sherko Bekas which is displayed at the front of Sardam Publication Centre in Suleimaniyah city – Kurdistan.
• 2015: The statue of the Kurdish poet Sherko Bekas which is displayed at his final resting place in Azadi Park in Suleimaniayh city – Kurdistan.
In the year 2015, Shwan becomes a member of the Artists Syndicate of Skona in Sweden and he begins to work at the sculpture factory of Robert Kasland during which he produces the following works:
2016: An Abstract statue which displayed at Malmo Hospital.
2017: The statue of ‘Mary the Negro’ which is displayed at Gothenburg City Library.
Art Exhibitions:
Since 1982, Shwan Kamal has managed to participate in many exhibitions across Kurdistan, Iraq and Europe. He has also managed to attain numerous prizes for his contribution to the art of sculpture. His art exhibitions were:
1987: The exhibition of Shwan Kamal art and sculpture collection at the gallery of Museum of Suleimaniyah City – Kurdistan.
2011: The exhibition of Shwan Kamal art and sculpture collection at the gallery of Museum of Suleimaniyah City – Kurdistan.
2011: The exhibition of Shwan Kamal art and sculpture collection at Media Centre in Erbil – Kurdistan.
