Mariwan Jalal

Evidence, 2019

Ceramic, mono print and clothes

Height 180cm

Power and Destruction, 2018
Print, collage and crude oil on canvas
Four works, 29 x 2 cm each

Cruelty and Inhumanity, 2019
Ceramic and image transfer
32 x 19 cm

Power and Destruction, 2019
Ceramic, image transfer and found object
37 x 23 cm

Dream Ship, 2019
Ceramic and decals
35 x 13 cm

Black Cloud, 2019
Ceramic and image transfer
37 x 23 cm

Mariwan Jalal is exhibiting a series of ceramic artworks including a work based on the snake on the wall of the shrine of Sheikh Adi, Lalish, a work inspired by the Warka vase from Uruk and a work based on an Assyrian relief broken into pieces.

“The inspiration for these works came from the region where I grew up, which was characterised by war, conflict, uncertainty and instability. In my work, I have explored violence and destruction throughout history. I have also focused on invasion, refugees and destruction as I witnessed first-hand the effects of a brutal regime on innocent people.  I have seen horrific human suffering with my own eyes. By altering the images and surface of my works using different techniques, I portray the war environment and the impact of war on human beings.”

Artist’s Biography

Mariwan Jalal was born in Kurdistan and moved to London in 2002. In 2014, he graduated from the London University of Arts with an MA in printmaking. He also holds a BA (Hons) in ceramics from the same university. 

Jalal is a mixed media artist whose works reflect stories from daily life and mirror his Kurdish heritage. His artwork takes a critical view of social, political and cultural issues. Often referencing the history of his homeland, he explores the varying relationships between his artistic subject matter and the environment. His work reproduces familiar visual designs arranged into new, conceptually layered installations. 

Jalal uses a variety of materials and processes in each project but his methodology is consistent. Although there may not always be material similarities between the different projects, they are linked by recurring formal concerns. The subject matter
of each body of work determines the materials and the forms applied.