about the artist
saman zahawi is an iraqi-canadian artist and architect, born in baghdad in 1967.
through his work, he reimagines the art of calligraphy, merging spiritual depth with the power of the arabic language.
his art bridges tradition and modernity, using stark black and white contrasts
to reflect life’s dualities - good and evil, life and death, hope and despair.
each piece is an invitation to pause, reflect, and search for meaning within the everyday human experience.
silent art
zahawi’s art lives in the contradictions between silence and expression. built on intricate lines and evolving words, each piece reshapes the arabic script into something unrecognizable yet deeply familiar - every detail a reflection of the meaning and dualities in life.
the power of isolation | قوة الانفرادية
الفن الصامت
الفن الصامت هو لغة اللامرئي، حيث تذوب الكلمات في التكوين، ويصبح الصمت هو صوت المعنى. في الفن الصامت لسمان الزهاوي، يتحول الحوار الحاد بين الأبيض والأسود إلى ما يتجاوز الصوت، ليرشد المتلقي نحو فضاء داخلي من التأمل. كل لوحة هي تأمل في الثنائيات: الحياة والموت، السكون والحركة، النور والظل، لتدعو العين والروح إلى الإصغاء البصري العميق. الفن الصامت ليس غياب التعبير، بل هو انكشاف صدى أعمق يتحدث بلا لفظ، مجسّدًا التناقضات الأبدية التي تشكّل الوجود الإنساني
art & architecture
zahawi's artistic path is deeply intertwined with his career as an architect. his background in architectural engineering brings structural precision to his art, while his artistic intuition brings a unique, human dimension to his architecture.
philosophy & style
rooted in arab culture, language and philosophy, zahawi's art transforms calligraphy into both a visual and spiritual expression.
using black ink on white paper, his freehand artistry reshapes script into forms that feel unrecognizable yet deeply familiar, every stroke defined by contrast and meaning.
The Fine Line between Sense and Nonsense | المنطق واللا منطق
just a number - مجرد عدد
ignorance is poverty - اكبر الفقر الجهل
freedom - حرية
the beginning
in 2017, a routine business trip took an unexpected turn, leading zahawi to an extended stay abroad. in search of distraction, he wandered into a small stationery shop, gathering paper and pens.
what began as idle sketches became his first work, the iceberg - a meditation on what lies beneath the surface. the tip reflected the simplicity he had expected, while the unseen mass revealed life’s hidden complexities.
from that moment, zahawi’s artistic journey quietly began.
the iceberg
