Daily Inspiration: Meet Diyar Al-Asadi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Diyar Al-Asadi.

Hi Diyar, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Baghdad, Iraq and moved to the United States in 2012. I started to paint at the age of 7, when my mother and my school teacher discovered that I had my way with paints on paper and with chalk on the blackboard. I had an innocent childhood before the invasion of Iraq in 2003, when my family was forced to leave everything behind and flee following death threats. We came to Egypt hoping to find safety and an opportunity for a normal life. I was 10 years old when we became refugees – a changed reality that made me grow up a lot faster in order to survive what became a life full of uncertainties. As the oldest of my siblings and the son of parents with poor health, I had to assume responsibilities that I wasn’t ready for, but had no other choice: watching my family struggle to make ends meet, with no food on the table more often than not, was not an option.

On the flip side, this struggle is what brought me much closer to my art: painting wasn’t just a passion anymore but it became a way for me to start supporting my family as much as I could. The more I painted, the more doors opened for me. Behind each door, I was fortunate to find exceptional people who would help me and my family in any way they could. This is how I met many of my incredible teachers along the way who taught everything from different techniques on the canvas to understanding what art is and ultimately paved the way for me to be where I am right now.

It has been a long journey, but I also know this in a way is just the beginning. Having settled here in Phoenix, my family and I finally have the normality that was once taken away from us and feel blessed to call this beautiful city our home. We will never forget the pain, the loss and the struggle but for now we are able to find happiness again in the simple things in life, like enjoying the glorious Phoenix sunsets.

In terms of my career, after years of juggling many odd jobs to pay the bills and pay for my paints, I’m now extremely fortunate to be able to paint full time. I’m currently working on a large painting 16”ft X 4”ft at the building of Galvanize in collaboration with the {9}gallery. The painting and a live painting performance by me will be part of grand opening hosted by Galvanize and {9}gallery in the near future.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think we all have our fair share of struggles one way or another, and what makes a difference is the point of view we take. Losing our home, our livelihood, our safety when the US invaded Iraq in 2003, wasn’t easy. We became refugees, which became part of our identity. The fear, the uncertainty, the pain were all very real, but so was the love and support of all the strangers we met along the way, who showed us how far human kindness and compassion can go. We spent 8 years between Egypt and Jordan waiting to be resettled to the US. These were undoubtedly hard years, but they were also filled with excitement, new friendships, growth and self-discovery which inevitably shaped who I am today. As an artist, I tend to shy away from the idea of “struggle” but prefer to see each obstacle as an opportunity to reassess reality and dive deeper into the meaning of human existence in general and the part that I play in shaping a better reality.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I do paintings – acrylic on canvas. I’ve always been fascinated with the rich heritage of the traditional Islamic art and I’d love to make it more accessible to a broader public through my work and the contemporary interpretation I give it.

My work is known for its details and precisions of both color and form. It often takes thousands of hours of brushstrokes to complete a painting. My art is a form of meditation similar to the rituals of a whirling sufi through which I seek to create a connection between the past and the present; the spiritual and the physical; and use it as an inspiration to push the boundaries of beauty, balance, gender, religion, culture, and spirituality.

For me, painting is a very spiritual experience and I draw my inspiration from the magnificent “mazars” or “shrines” that I still remember from my childhood in Iraq. Their gold and blue geometrical ceramic designs is what is at the core of my visual aesthetics. It’s my way of telling a story through weaving these beautiful patterns together until they form an image that is more powerful than words.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
It will be impossible to mention all the people who have helped and supported me on my journey until now and to all of whom I’ll be eternally grateful. But if I am to mention a few that have played a truly pivotal role, I’d like to start with my mother Layla. She’s been my biggest cheerleader, my biggest supporter and also the best compass one could have navigating the murky waters of growing up. She instilled so much love and faith in the goodness of humanity in my siblings and me, which has been the best shield we could have had dealing with the many challenges life would throw at us. Also my foster moms Souheila and Sasha; my teachers who saw a promise in my art and showed me the ways of artistic expression; my manager Yordanka Evgenieva, who met me while I was still a kid in Cairo and who never stopped believing in me all these years.

A special thanks to my amazing mentor, Astaz Fatemeh PourHatami, who’s been on my journey with me for the past ten years. And last but not least, a big thank you to The {9} gallery who welcomed me with open arms to the incredible arts community here in Phoenix and who gave me the opportunity to live painting on site at Galvanize; and to my amazing friends artists Falah Saeedi, Mario Garcia, Mes Iq – thanks for your inspiration. And to all my clients who believe in my artwork.

Contact Info:

• Email: Artbydiyar@gmail.com
• Website: https://diyaralasadi.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art.by.diyar/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/art.by.diyar/
• Other: https://phxart.org/blog/diyar-al-asadi/