RawanThe Legacy Collection: Iraq
This is where it all began for me. On July 29th, 1989 – born in Baghdad, between two wars.
My father served as a soldier under Saddam Hussein’s regime and was forced into war, where survival on the front lines was never guaranteed.
My mother carried the responsibility of raising my brother and me during long periods of uncertainty and fear, holding our family together while we waited and prayed for my father’s return.
There were days when the world outside felt like it was collapsing, and all we could do was sit in silence in the hallway as bombs fell around us. We would turn off the lights, hide any sign of life inside our home, and try to remain unseen in a time when even being visible could be dangerous.
Life became more and more fragile. Borders constantly opened and closed with little to no warning, and the opportunity for safety grew smaller with each passing day.
My mother had already endured almost losing her brother as a prisoner of war, to now never knowing if her husband would return from war. It was then that she decided she could not let her son live the same fate.
On June 18th, 1991 – we fled Iraq, my father’s youngest brother joining us as we began a new life in Jordan.
As a Chaldean artist, this painting is rooted in memory, ancestry, and faith. Every brushstroke honors my Babylonian heritage, our Christian faith, and the homeland we were forced to leave behind.
Yet, roses still bloom.
Beautiful. Strong. Resilient.
Just like the people.
This art is for all of us Iraqis who carry a piece of our home in our hearts.
The Legacy Collection is a watercolor series created to honor my family’s journey through war, immigration, displacement, and ultimately, freedom. More than landscapes, borders, and national symbols, these artworks represent sacrifice, survival, faith, identity, and the courage to begin again.
Iraq | Jordan | Tunisia | Austria | USA | Spain | Qatar | Puerto Rico
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With love,
This is so beautiful! While I was born in America, both of my parents were from Iraq as well as my husband and his family. Now, raising children, I find these stories more important than ever. My parents didn’t talk about Iraq much – almost like they were trying to block out bad memories. But as I got older I had this deep longing to know more about my roots. And I want to learn as much as I can so my children know where they come from as well. Praying your collection touches so many people 🌹
What a beautiful story and amazing idea for a collection! My parents fled Iraq before I was born. They often tell me stories of how beautiful it was, and how amazing the fruits tasted. My mother recounts details of her carefree childhood, before war and extremist ideals stole the levity of her home. It pains me that I’ll never see the Iraq they knew, but I hope one day to travel there with them to see the resilience of their homeland. The place that cultivated such strong roots in its people, that the Iraqi heritage can be transplanted anywhere and thrive.