حوراء الخزرجي – مقيمة في الدنمارك

Hawraa Al-Khazraji

Since I was little I have loved to paint, and since then my desire to express myself through art has only grown. In 2020 I showed my works for the first time on my Instagram profile @hawraaartgallery. I find the inspiration for my paintings in my Iraqi roots and especially in the woman’s traditional Middle Eastern dress (Abaya). As a child, I remember looking at my mother’s beautiful black Abaya where the fabric was decorated with simple but elegant patterns. I almost only paint women with closed eyes, as for me they express security and strength. The viewer is invited into the world of the painting and the woman’s universe of thought. I want my works to be easily accessible but at the same time encourage a certain thoughtfulness. The women in the paintings are very different, as it is important to me to show that each woman has a unique beauty and story. In contrast to the harmonious figures, my works possess a complex color universe that signals warmth and strength. I make use of many tools to create dynamism in the works; different types of clay, beads, decorative stones, fabric and painting knives. Everything that can give a cool detail in the work. The many layers and the difference between the fine brushstrokes and the rough strokes from the spatulas give the paintings an expression with great depth. There is room for reflection and interpretation in the works. My message is that women with or without Abaya are women who have an everyday life with their own values, interests and all have unique stories – not least based on my own story. In 2023, I exhibited in several places in Copenhagen. First in my town Albertslund, then in Ballerup and in August 2023 I got my certificate for my participation in art at Land of Art. Where several artists from the Gulf participated and we had the opportunity to make art in one of the oldest hospitals in Copenhagen namely Frederiksberg Hospital. I came to Denmark in 1993 and am an occupational therapist. In addition to spending a lot of time painting, I write poems and love to cook.