Drawing inspiration from the Syrian countryside where he grew up, Kurdish artist Azad Hami paints scenes of cockfighting, a blood sport played for entertainment and money, often ending in the death of the roosters. Through this poignant subject, especially when viewed in the context of the Syrian war, the artist repeatedly uses the subject symbolically to show the brutality of violence. “It’s about confrontation,” he says. “There’s no good side and bad side. There’s a constant struggle and confrontation.” Born in Qamishli in 1979, Hami studied at the Adham Ismail Center for Fine Arts. Trained in traditional technical skills, the artist documents specific moments with mesmerizing precision. He highlights the natural colors of animals and depicts the elegance of their bodies before their inevitable fate, and his works on canvas or paper are imbued with a stark vitality and blatant violence. Azad Hami has participated in exhibitions and workshops in Syria, Iraq, Turkey, the UAE, Yemen, and most recently in Germany and France at institutions including the Museum of Modern Art, Paris. His works are held in collections throughout the Middle East, Europe and North Africa.