220:, Al-Nasiri was a major proponent of the pan-Arab modern art movement that gained momentum during the 1970s. At that time, Baghdad was the centre of contemporary art and culture in the Arab world, and spawned many organised art groups, many of which had deep philosophical underpinnings enshrined in published manifestoes. Al-Nasiri became actively involved in a number of these groups. He was a founding member of the Baghdad's New Vision Group, formed during the 1960s; an art collective that formed after the July Revolution of 1958, with the aim of encouraging artists to exercise greater freedom and experimentation by searching for inspiration in a variety of sources, but within a framework of heritage. He was also a founding member of the influential
132:"When the Chinese came to Baghdad in 1959 loaded with works of ivory, copper, silk, ceramics and printmaking, I was still a student in the last year of my studies at the Institute of Fine Arts. The most wonderful Chinese antiques and masterpieces were organised and displayed in the main hall of the Institute so we, the students, could see them dozens of times every day. What attracted our attention and made us marvel most was a beautiful masterpiece comprised of fourteen ivory balls of varying sizes, all contained inside one ball, revolving smoothly around their pivot. Personally, however, I was drawn to the collection of watercolours and Chinese ink prints. Most of these were by the internationally renowned artist
116:(b.1940 Tikrit, Iraq -7 December 2013 Amman, Jordan) was an Iraqi painter, draughtsman, print-maker, educator and author whose works with a social and political message resonated with the Iraqi public in the mid-20th century. He was also very influential in encouraging young artists to take up print-making.
235:
He also authored a number of articles and books on the subject of graphic engraving and print-making. Through his teaching, active involvement in art groups and his writing, al-Nasiri "influenced the subsequent generations and played an instrumental role in the development of a strong tradition of
231:
He taught at the
Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad (from 1964), Yarmouk University in Jordan (1974-1989), and the University of Bahrain (1997-2003), and played an instrumental role in founding the print-making studio at Jordan’s Darat al Funun during the early 1990s where he set up the studio, ran
140:
While studying in China, under the guidance of Huang Yu Yi (b. 1927), al-Nasiri developed a passion for calligraphy, and began to devise ways to include Arabic letters in his paintings and prints. In this way, al-Nasiri became a very early practitioner of an art form that became known as
196:
Later, in 1967, he received a
Gulbenkian Foundation scholarship to study print-making at the Gravura in Lisbon, Portugal. There he was exposed to a variety of techniques used by contemporary European artists and was especially influenced by the work of the French artist,
148:
In 1965, after returning to
Baghdad from China, he and two of his brothers, went on a road trip travelling through twenty-four Arab and European countries. During this time, he came into contact with Western art. Visiting prestigious museums such as the
839:- Digital resource developed and maintained by Iraqi artists and includes reproductions of artworks, many of which were looted from the Museum of Modern Art in 2003 and remain missing. These works are not accessible in any other reliable public source.
128:, attaining a Diploma in Painting in 1959. He then pursued his training in print-making by attending Beijing’s Central Academy of Fine Arts in China (1959-1963). The artist described how he became attached to Chinese art:
255:). He also expressed his admiration for Iraq's 13th-century poets by producing art books art featuring Arabic calligraphy and with compilations of verse by renowned classical and contemporary Arab poets such as
136:(1864-1954) whose work I closely followed in his hometown of Beijing. Since that time, I became quite attached to traditional Chinese painting and realised that it differs in many aspects from European art.
266:
His work is held in the permanent collections of a number of prestigious art museums in the Middle East, Asia and Europe, including: the Museum of Modern Art, Baghdad; Museum of Modern Art, Damascus;
251:
In addition to his paintings and prints, Al Nasiri was interested in book art and produced a number of limited edition works, some of which detailed his experiences living in war-torn
Baghdad (e.g.,
733:
627:
357:
18 May- 26 September 2006, curated by the
British Museum, London; travelling exhibition also at the Dubai Financial Centre, 7 February – 30 April 2008
397:
865:
599:
563:
507:
880:
267:
900:
541:
University of
Florida Press, 1997, pp 165-66; Dadi, I., "Ibrahim El Salahi and Calligraphic Modernism in a Comparative Perspective,"
384:
271:
792:
201:(b. 1921) who used calligraphy in his artwork. This consolidated his interest in the use of Arabic letters in his own artwork.
283:
286:, Madrid; Museum of Contemporary Graphic Art, Norway; Collection of the International Academy, Salzburg; Collection of the
239:
In the 1990s, he settled in Jordan and died in Amman on 7 December 2013. He was survived by his widow; the poet and artist
890:
590:
Al-Nasiri, E. "My Visual
Resources: Place and Time Between East and West," in: Dia Al-Azzawi, Rafa Al-Nasiri, Ali Talib,
554:
Al-Nasiri, E. "My Visual
Resources: Place and Time Between East and West," in: Dia Al-Azzawi, Rafa Al-Nasiri, Ali Talib,
498:
Al-Nasiri, E. "My Visual
Resources: Place and Time Between East and West," in: Dia Al-Azzawi, Rafa Al-Nasiri, Ali Talib,
895:
287:
125:
885:
299:
275:
232:
courses and also organised exhibitions and was its inaugural
Director. He held that post from 1993-1995.
479:
291:
225:
209:
643:
615:
279:
213:
474:
221:
762:
713:
685:
579:
459:
263:. He also authored several books and a number of journal articles on the history of graphic art.
142:
166:
725:
697:
619:
861:
595:
559:
503:
393:
380:
178:
638:
Siba Aldabbagh, "From Yahya Alwasiti to Hafidh Aldroubi to Rafa Alnasira: Building Bridges,"
610:
Siba Aldabbagh, "From Yahya Alwasiti to Hafidh Aldroubi to Rafa Alnasira: Building Bridges,"
260:
198:
186:
150:
656:
Culture and arts in Iraq: Celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the July 17–30 Revolution,
440:
The Honors Prize at the 4th International Graphics Biennale, Fredrickstad (Norway) 1978
295:
170:
158:
836:
874:
728:"Tikrit-born artist Rafa Al-Nasiri passes away at the age of 73 in Amman, Jordan," ,
622:"Tikrit-born artist Rafa Al-Nasiri passes away at the age of 73 in Amman, Jordan," ,
443:
The Jury Prize at the International Painting Exhibition, Cagnes-sur-mer (France) 1977
217:
190:
256:
240:
94:
469:
162:
205:
449:
First Prize at the Baghdad International Festival of Art, Baghdad (Iraq) 1986
446:
The Honors Prize at the International Summer Academy, Salzburg (Austria) 1974
821:
804:
464:
182:
133:
673:
Art and Language: Explorations in (Post) Modern Thought and Visual Culture
526:
174:
124:
Born in Tikrit, Iraq, Rafa al-Nasiri received his early art education at
761:
Cengage Learning, 2012 p. 190; "Rafa al-Nasiri," , Barjeel Foundation
379:(in Arabic), Beirut, Arab Institute for Research and Publishing, 2005
69:
B.A. in Printmaking, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing (1959-1963)
373:(in Arabic), Beirut, Arab Institute for Research and Publishing, 1997
154:
658:
The Ministry, Iraq, 1978, p. 26; Ghareeb, E.A. and Dougherty, B.,
545:
Vol. 109, No. 3, 2010, pp 555-576, DOI: 10.1215/00382876-2010-006
320:
collection of poetry by Mayy Muzaffar (limited edition art book)
66:
Diploma in Painting, Institute of Fine Arts, Baghdad (1956-1959)
351:
touring exhibition, opened University of North Texas, USA, 2005
594:, Meem Gallery and Art Advisory Associates Ltd, Dubai, 2011,
558:, Meem Gallery and Art Advisory Associates Ltd, Dubai, 2011,
502:, Meem Gallery and Art Advisory Associates Ltd, Dubai, 2011,
105:
809:
Bibliography of Art and Architecture in the Islamic World,
436:
Al Nasiri was awarded a number of prestigious art prizes:
392:
Beirut, Arab Institute for Research and Publishing, 2012,
270:, Amman; Darat Al Funun, Khalid Shoman Foundation, Amman;
75:
International Summer Academy, Salzburg, Austria (1974-75)
767:
New Vision: Arab Contemporary Art in the 21st Century,
86:
Painter, draughtsman, print-maker, educator and author
712:
Routledge, 2016, DOI: 10.4324/9781135000356-REM487-1
578:
Routledge, 2016, DOI: 10.4324/9781135000356-REM487-1
853:
The Arab Institute for Research and Publishing, 2010
425:
International Journal of Contemporary Iraqi Studies,
101:
90:
82:
72:
Diploma in Printmaking, The Gravura, Lisbon (1969)
59:
51:
39:
27:
20:
204:Along with other eminent Iraqi artists including:
520:Word into Art: Artists of the Modern Middle East,
355:Word into Art: Artists of the Modern Middle East,
708:Shabout, N., "Nasiri, Rafa al- (1940–2013)," in
574:Shabout, N., "Nasiri, Rafa al- (1940–2013)," in
423:"Survival through Art and the Art of Survival,"
165:in Amsterdam, he was introduced to the works of
539:Modern Islamic Art: Development and Continuity,
189:amongst others and was deeply impressed by the
130:
769:Thames & Hudson, 2009, pages 31 and 41-42
765:; Amirsadeghi, G, Mikdadi, S., Shabout, N.M.
522:London, BMP, (2006) 2008; "Rafa al-Nasiri" ,
8:
377:Horizons and Mirrors: Essays on Plastic Art,
345:touring exhibition, opened in London, 2000
17:
343:Strokes of Genius: Contemporary Iraqi Art
618:; "Rafa al-Nasiri," , 18 December 2013,
161:, Rome’s Museum of Contemporary Art and
491:
724:"Rafa al-Nasiri," , 18 December 2013,
675:, Kassel University Press, 2017, p.117
858:Rafa Nasiri: 50 Years of Printmaking,
349:Dafatir: Contemporary Iraqi Book Art,
7:
710:Routledge Encyclopedia of Modernism,
576:Routledge Encyclopedia of Modernism,
326:art book, mixed media on paper, 2007
851:Rafa al-Nasiri: His Life & Art,
759:Contemporary Color: Theory and Use,
418:Gilgamesh: A Journal of Modern Art,
411:Gilgamesh: A Journal of Modern Art,
306:Select list of paintings and prints
268:Jordan National Museum of Fine Arts
849:Sabah Al Nassiri and May Muzafar,
640:Contemporary Practice Art Journal,
612:Contemporary Practice Art Journal,
14:
791:British Museum, "Word into Art"
332:mixed media on hinged wood, 2007
126:Baghdad’s Institute of Fine Arts
427:vol. 3, no. 3, 2009, pp 259–175
782:Intellect Books, 2013, p. 1995
748:Intellect Books, 2013, p. 1995
660:Historical Dictionary of Iraq,
654:Ministry of Culture and Arts,
1:
662:Scarecrow Press, 2004, p. 174
409:"Contemporary Iraqi Poster,"
290:, Beijing; Gravura, Lisbon, (
416:"Modern Iraqi Graphic Art,"
288:Central Academy of Fine Arts
881:20th-century Iraqi painters
362:Select list of publications
917:
901:Iraqi contemporary artists
592:Art in Iraq Today: Part IV
556:Art in Iraq Today: Part IV
543:South Atlantic Quarterly.
500:Art in Iraq Today: Part IV
366:His key writings include:
337:Select list of exhibitions
300:Victoria and Albert Museum
371:Contemporary Graphic Art,
272:Mathaf Museum of Arab Art
97:(poet and artist) m. 1973
280:Institute Du Monde Arabe
318:From That Distant Land,
420:vol. 1, 1987, pp 13–17
406:vol. 1, 1983, pp 12–17
138:
480:List of Iraqi artists
413:vol. 3, 1982, pp 6–12
324:Seven Days in Baghdad
292:Gulbenkian Foundation
236:Iraqi print-making."
226:Shakir Hassan Al Said
210:Shakir Hassan Al Said
891:Artists from Baghdad
860:Milan, Skira, 2013,
684:Barjeel Foundation,
390:My Journey to China,
896:Iraqi calligraphers
820:Nabad Art Gallery,
811:Brill, 2012, p. 654
803:Nabad Art Gallery,
642:Vol. XI, pp 74-77,
614:Vol. XI, pp 74-77,
475:Islamic calligraphy
224:founded in 1971 by
222:One Dimension Group
837:Modern Art Archive
732:18 December 2013,
626:18 December 2013,
460:Hurufiyya movement
402:"Arab Graphics,"
330:Al Mutanabi Street
278:, Al Sharja, UAE;
276:Barjeel Foundation
253:Al Mutanabi Street
886:Abstract painters
866:978-88-572-2023-9
780:Cultural Studies,
778:Intellect Books,
746:Cultural Studies,
744:Intellect Books,
600:978-1-907051-09-8
564:978-1-907051-09-8
508:978-1-907051-09-8
432:Prizes and awards
298:, London and the
284:Modern Art Museum
111:
110:
908:
824:
818:
812:
807:; Sinclair, S.,
801:
795:
789:
783:
776:
770:
755:
749:
742:
736:
722:
716:
706:
700:
696:Darat al Funun,
694:
688:
682:
676:
669:
663:
652:
646:
636:
630:
608:
602:
588:
582:
572:
566:
552:
546:
535:
529:
516:
510:
496:
18:
916:
915:
911:
910:
909:
907:
906:
905:
871:
870:
846:
844:Further reading
833:
828:
827:
819:
815:
802:
798:
790:
786:
777:
773:
756:
752:
743:
739:
723:
719:
707:
703:
695:
691:
683:
679:
670:
666:
653:
649:
637:
633:
609:
605:
589:
585:
573:
569:
553:
549:
536:
532:
524:Station Museum,
517:
513:
497:
493:
488:
456:
434:
398:978 6144 191071
261:Mahmoud Darwish
249:
199:Georges Mathieu
151:Museo del Prado
122:
120:Life and career
78:
47:
44:
43:7 December 2013
35:
32:
23:
12:
11:
5:
914:
912:
904:
903:
898:
893:
888:
883:
873:
872:
869:
868:
856:May Muzaffar,
854:
845:
842:
841:
840:
832:
831:External links
829:
826:
825:
813:
796:
784:
771:
757:Bleicher, S.,
750:
737:
717:
701:
689:
677:
664:
647:
631:
603:
583:
567:
547:
530:
511:
490:
489:
487:
484:
483:
482:
477:
472:
467:
462:
455:
452:
451:
450:
447:
444:
441:
433:
430:
429:
428:
421:
414:
407:
400:
387:
374:
359:
358:
352:
346:
334:
333:
327:
321:
315:
312:Al Ahwar Girl,
296:British Museum
248:
245:
191:Impressionists
159:British Museum
121:
118:
114:Rafa al-Nasiri
109:
108:
103:
99:
98:
92:
88:
87:
84:
83:Known for
80:
79:
77:
76:
73:
70:
67:
63:
61:
57:
56:
53:
49:
48:
45:
41:
37:
36:
33:
29:
25:
24:
22:Rafa al-Nasiri
21:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
913:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
887:
884:
882:
879:
878:
876:
867:
863:
859:
855:
852:
848:
847:
843:
838:
835:
834:
830:
823:
817:
814:
810:
806:
800:
797:
794:
788:
785:
781:
775:
772:
768:
764:
760:
754:
751:
747:
741:
738:
735:
731:
727:
721:
718:
715:
711:
705:
702:
699:
693:
690:
687:
681:
678:
674:
671:Treichl, C.,
668:
665:
661:
657:
651:
648:
645:
641:
635:
632:
629:
625:
621:
617:
613:
607:
604:
601:
597:
593:
587:
584:
581:
577:
571:
568:
565:
561:
557:
551:
548:
544:
540:
534:
531:
528:
525:
521:
515:
512:
509:
505:
501:
495:
492:
485:
481:
478:
476:
473:
471:
468:
466:
463:
461:
458:
457:
453:
448:
445:
442:
439:
438:
437:
431:
426:
422:
419:
415:
412:
408:
405:
401:
399:
395:
391:
388:
386:
385:9953-36-798-1
382:
378:
375:
372:
369:
368:
367:
364:
363:
356:
353:
350:
347:
344:
341:
340:
339:
338:
331:
328:
325:
322:
319:
316:
313:
310:
309:
308:
307:
303:
301:
297:
293:
289:
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
264:
262:
258:
254:
246:
244:
242:
237:
233:
229:
227:
223:
219:
218:Kadhim Hayder
215:
214:Ismail Fattah
211:
207:
206:Dia al-Azzawi
202:
200:
194:
192:
188:
184:
180:
176:
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
146:
144:
137:
135:
129:
127:
119:
117:
115:
107:
104:
100:
96:
93:
89:
85:
81:
74:
71:
68:
65:
64:
62:
58:
54:
50:
46:Amman, Jordan
42:
38:
30:
26:
19:
16:
857:
850:
816:
808:
799:
787:
779:
774:
766:
758:
753:
745:
740:
729:
720:
709:
704:
692:
680:
672:
667:
659:
655:
650:
639:
634:
623:
611:
606:
591:
586:
575:
570:
555:
550:
542:
538:
533:
523:
519:
514:
499:
494:
435:
424:
417:
410:
403:
389:
376:
370:
365:
361:
360:
354:
348:
342:
336:
335:
329:
323:
317:
311:
305:
304:
265:
257:al-Mutannabi
252:
250:
241:May Muzaffar
238:
234:
230:
203:
195:
147:
139:
131:
123:
113:
112:
95:May Muzaffar
34:Tikrit, Iraq
15:
518:Porter, V,
470:Islamic art
163:Rijksmuseum
106:Rafa Nasiri
52:Nationality
875:Categories
730:Art Daily,
624:Art Daily,
486:References
302:, London.
537:Ali, W.,
465:Iraqi art
282:, Paris;
274:, Qatar;
183:Rembrandt
167:Velazquez
143:hurufiyya
134:Qi Baishi
91:Spouse(s)
60:Education
454:See also
175:El Greco
822:Online:
805:Online:
793:Online:
763:Online:
734:Online:
726:Online:
714:Online:
698:Online:
686:Online"
644:Online:
628:Online:
620:Online:
616:Online:
580:Online:
527:Online:
294:); The
102:Website
864:
598:
562:
506:
396:
383:
314:, 1965
187:Turner
179:Rubens
155:Louvre
55:Iraqi
862:ISBN
596:ISBN
560:ISBN
504:ISBN
394:ISBN
381:ISBN
259:and
247:Work
216:and
173:and
171:Goya
40:Died
31:1940
28:Born
404:Ur,
877::
243:.
228:.
212:,
208:,
193:.
185:,
181:,
177:,
169:,
157:,
153:,
145:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.