About
About the Artist
Saman Zahawi is an Iraqi-Canadian artist and architect born in Baghdad in 1967. Since 2017, he has continued to experiment and redefine the realm of Arabic calligraphy - creating a unique style that blends profound spirituality with the beauty and power of the Arabic language.
Zahawi's artwork serves as a bridge between tradition and modernity, employing stark black and white contrasts to explore life's dualities—victory and defeat, life and death, hope and despair.
Each piece invites a contemplative journey, exploring the deeper dimensions of the human experience.
الحياة لحظة عشها كانها لحظة
يتحدثون خلفك لانهم فعلا خلفك
Art & Architecture
Zahawi's emerging career as an artist is deeply intertwined with his career as an architect.
His background in architectural engineering provides a structural precision to his art, while artistic intuition brings a unique, humanistic dimension to his architectural projects.
Philosophy & Style
Drawing inspiration from Arab and Sufi philosophies,
Zahawi's art is deeply tied to his heritage.
Using black ink on white paper, he reinvents Arabic calligraphy as both a visual and spiritual expression through freehand artistry and striking contrasts that invite deep contemplation.
Freehand Artwork
"The Iceberg"
The Beginning
In 2017, a routine business trip took an unexpected turn, leading Zahawi to an extended stay abroad. Wandering into a stationery shop, he picked up large sheets of paper and pens, sketching to pass the time.
What began as a distraction evolved into his first piece,
The Iceberg—a reflection of that experience. The visible tip symbolized the simplicity he had anticipated, while the intricate layers beneath revealed life’s hidden complexities that lie below the surface.
This unplanned moment sparked the beginnings of Zahawi's artistic journey.
حياتي انا