Assyrian American Association
OF SAN JOSE
ART - A WAY OF LIVING
Dating back to 3500 B.C., Mesopotamian art was intended to serve as a way to glorify powerful rulers and their connection to divinity.
QAIS AL-SINDY
Qais Al-Sindy was born in Baghdad and currently resides in California, USA. He received his B.S. College of Engineering in 1989 from Baghdad University. He continued his study’s in art and received his BA, Academy of Fine Arts in 2000 and Master’s in Fine Art in 2004, also from Baghdad University. In his art, Qais uses varieties of media (painting, installation, video, conceptual, performances, etc.) yet, he focuses on painting and finds himself as a ‘Painter’ through pigments and colors on canvas. You can find more of Qais' art at: www.qaissindy.com
Title: Ashurbanipal-Layers of power and heroism
Description: I depict the great king Ashurbanipal in expressionist style, the multiple face here represents his strong personality as a leader and king; despite being a popular and kind king among his subjects, he was also known for his cruelty to his enemies. Not to mention, his bravery and heroism in hunting the lions, which seen as a symbol of the king's ability to guard his people and Assyrian Empire. The deep layers of Ashurbanipal serve as an indication of his great individuality.
Dimensions: 24 x 18 x .1
NAHREN YOUKHANA
Nahren, the land between the Rivers, the two Rivers that meet. She is a contemporary visual artist specializing in oil painting and in her fourth-year bachelors studying Visual Art and Art History (studio). What you see are her visions painted in a Realistic style to portray the subjects as their true forms. Her hands are meant to preserve her heritage and culture through her paintings. These visions and stories are to raise awareness on the history and diaspora of the Assyrian people. Indigenous to Iraq, Assyrians continue to suffer from destruction and reconstruction. That's when she starts by constructing the canvas from scratch, like her ancestors did in their Cities and Great Empire. The whole painting process takes her from three to six months to complete, working on them for seven to twelve hours a day. Every brushstroke is a new journey and a new chapter of the story. Through these marks she expresses her passion, this is her mission and she can't help but continue to fulfill it.
Title: Ashurbanipal
Description: My inspiration for this painting is Ashurbanipal himself. While I was painting him I felt his presence, as if he was telling me what to paint, how to paint him and how to compose the painting. Ashurbanipal is showing us his work, his library, his character. He is strong, brave and loyal. He loves his country and will do anything in his power to protect the knowledge of Assyria, the people of Assyria and the future generations through his writing.
Dimensions: 48 x 36 x 1.5
JELBERT KARAMI
Jerbert Karami was Born in Tehran in 1985. He began painting at the age of 14, after seeing a work by Sohrab Sepehri at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. He studied at Mana, an art academy in Tehran, mounting his first solo exhibition there in 2005. At 20, he committed his life to art, starting to paint professionally, gaining a reputation, teaching in numerous schools, and holding workshops in private clubs in the city.
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ATRA GIVARKES
Born in Iran, Urmia, Atra Givarkes currently lives and works in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. After graduating from high school, Atra attended Tabriz Azad University and studied Graphic design in Iran. After a year into her education, in 2007, she moved to the US, followed her passion in oil painting. She received her Associate degree in Fine Arts from Modesto Junior College in 2014 and her Visual Arts Bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego in 2016. During her college years, she worked as volunteer curator for college art gallery and participated in many student art exhibitions. During her time in university, she became familiar with conceptual art and developed an art practice incorporating calligraphy in her contemporary art. She became an honorary student and participated in numerous art exhibitions. Through university programs, she volunteered in San Diego Chinese Historical Museum as graphic designer and registrar. Her first solo show was titled “Where Is My Home” was held in UCSD’s Kamil Art Gallery in 2016 which reflected her life journey from her home country to the United States. she currently practices her art from her art studio at home.
Title: Ashurbanipal
Description: Inspired by Ashurbanipal's quote " I am ashurbanipal, the king of the world, the king of Assyria ". The painting is oil based media.
Dimensions: 36 x 24 x 2
ODETTE TOMIK
Odette was born in Tehran, Iran in 1964 in a Christian-Assyrian family. In 1985 she was accepted in Al-Zahra University of Tehran in the field of painting and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1991. Odette met the famous Assyrian-Iranian painter, Hanibal Alkhas and started working on subjects related to Assyrian life, figures and mythology, also a collection of paintings on the subject of Immigration. The paintings were displayed in several exhibitions. In 2000, she immigrated to the United States and had an exhibition, in 2001, named Assyrian Dance in Los Angeles, California. Odette works with different medias and on different subjects. It depends on what she feels or what is on her mind. She calls herself a diversity artist who likes to show the meaning of life and a message of hope.
Title: Ghateena, The Assyrian hero
Description: Oil, Acrylic on paper canvas
Dimensions: 18 x 13 x 0
NINOS CHAMMO
Ninos was born Assyrian and grew up living among the rich culture and history of Italy. At age 16, he started his apprenticeship in Florence. That is where he first learned the skills of sculpting, painting and designing. For over seven years he mastered his trade in several schools, ateliers, and artisan shops. At the Accademia Delle Belle Arti, Ninos gained a profound understanding of the fine arts and became proficient in creating frescos and monuments at Raymondo Riaci Atelier. He discovered one of his greatest passions-Sculpting-at Bronzi De Firenze. There he worked as a professional sculptor, creating statues in Bronze A Cera Persa. He also worked in Bini Alfonso, the famous artisan shop, alongside the Japanese artist, Harwo Kinoshita. Under Florentine traditions, Ninos created wood sculptures and Paper Mache Masks, as well as interior design and jewelry for Ponte Vecchio.
Title: Akitu
Description: Acrylics on canvas
Dimensions: 45 x 70 x 0
BAVLINA YOURI
Bavlina is a California native who was born and raised in Turlock, CA. She graduated with her BA in Political Science from California State University of Stanislaus. After a series of pivotal events in her life she discovered storytelling and artistry to be her true calling. Bavlina moved to New York where she received her Masters of Fine Arts degree in Acting from The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University. She is the Founder of the production company, Raving Iris and a member of The LAByrinth Theatre Company’s 2014 Intensive Ensemble. She began her Black & White Painting Series in 2016 and since then has ventured into different forms of expression through this series. All of her work is dedicated to capturing the soul of who we are.
Title: I Am
Description: This is an Acrylic on canvas painting representing Ashurbanipal and his love for the Hunt. It portrays two Kingdoms. The rest I leave up to one's own imagination.
Dimensions: 24 x 30 x 1
AGNES ISHAK
Bavlina is a California native who was born and raised in Turlock, CA. She graduated with her BA in Political Science from California State University of Stanislaus. After a series of pivotal events in her life she discovered storytelling and artistry to be her true calling. Bavlina moved to New York where she received her Masters of Fine Arts degree in Acting from The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University. She is the Founder of the production company, Raving Iris and a member of The LAByrinth Theatre Company’s 2014 Intensive Ensemble. She began her Black & White Painting Series in 2016 and since then has ventured into different forms of expression through this series. All of her work is dedicated to capturing the soul of who we are.
Title: Voices
Description: Hymns heavenly high
Praising the coming star from the sky
Exists before being
Linked to the forces of nature
Linked to the infinite nation
Legacy from Sumar, Akkad, Babylonia and Assyria
We today place the glory symbol above our head as a flag
Acrylic and oil on canvas
Dimensions: 75 x 100 x 2.5