ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish artist behind the Amedi Castle painting, which was gifted by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani to Jordan’s King Abdullah, expressed his pride on Monday, telling Rudaw that his artwork symbolizes Kurdistan and the Badinan Emirate.
“I created the painting in 2003. It’s small, measuring 60 by 20 cm,” Khairi Adam said, adding that the Kurdistan Region Presidency had requested a special piece of art to be presented by President Barzani to King Abdullah II.
President Barzani visited the Jordanian capital of Amman on Sunday, where he met with King Abdullah and other high-ranking officials to discuss enhancing bilateral relations, joint cooperation, and regional and international developments.
Adam explained that he had “presented a number of paintings” to the Kurdistan Region Presidency per its request, and the Amedi Castle painting was selected because it is “much more than just a piece of art.”
“This painting is a symbol of Kurdistan and a symbol of the Badinan era, especially since Amedi was the heart and center of the Badinan Emirate,” Adam elaborated.
The Badinan Emirate, a Kurdish principality that ruled from the late 14th century until the mid-19th century, was centered around the city of Amedi in what is now northern Kurdistan. The emirate was a center of Kurdish culture, politics, and learning, known for its heavily fortified towns and castles, including the historic Amedi Castle.
Adam expressed his deep honor at seeing his painting presented during such a landmark visit by the Kurdistan Region President and hoped that more Kurdish artists would have the opportunity to showcase their work in important international settings.
He also emphasized the importance of gifting artwork that reflects Kurdistan’s culture, people, and environment. “Sometimes you visit someone’s home, a hotel, or a restaurant and find it filled with foreign art, while unfortunately, artwork showcasing our nation, culture, and environment is nowhere to be found,” Adam noted.
Of note, Adam has previously presented artwork to be gifted by President Barzani to prominent figures. The Kurdistan Region President had previously presented Adam’s artwork to the late Pope Francis.
This is not the first time President Barzani gifts Kurdish artwork to state leaders in recent months, highlighting the rich Kurdish heritage, cultural identity, and historical significance on the international stage.
In mid-April, President Barzani also gifted French President Emmanuel Macron with a Kurdish edition of the book Kurdistan, Mon Ami, collated by humanitarian and war photographer Lam Duc Hien. The book features powerful images of life in the Kurdistan Region.
