Hayv Kahraman: Nabog

Experience the breathtaking work of Kurdish-Iraqi artist Hayv Kahraman. Nabog, from the series How Iraqi Are You?, reflects on the artist’s childhood in Iraq and the lasting cultural traditions that shape stories of belonging.

In Nabog, a recent acquisition for the Museum’s Permanent Collection, Kurdish-Iraqi artist Hayv Kahraman transforms personal memory into stunning contemporary painting. The work draws on the artist’s childhood in Iraq before her family fled during the First Gulf War.

The title refers to a jujube tree remembered from Kahraman’s childhood garden and to a Kurdish nursery rhyme about sharing fruit. Inscribed beneath six interconnected female figures, the verse evokes themes of generosity, reciprocity, and community.

Drawing inspiration from art historical references like Japanese hanging scrolls and illustrated Iraqi manuscripts such as the Maqamat of al-Hariri (d.1122), Kahraman creates a powerful meditation on memory, identity, and cultural belonging.