Residency artists and researchers Literature Saddam Jumaily taidemaalari, kirjailija Although best known as a painter, Saddam Jumaily is also an accomplished designer and a published author. Regardless of the art form, Jumaily’s works are characterized by their depth and philosophical nature. Memory and nostalgia are recurring themes in his paintings, and they are also frequent plot elements that he explores in his writings. His inclination towards nostalgia can be attributed to a sense of belonging he has often craved while moving from country to country. In most instances, his paintings employ symbols as devices. In Jumaily’s own words: “Painting is an opportunity to emote.” The art he presents is a depiction of the ongoing chaos that the peoples of this region have experienced the past two decades. Saddam Jumaily was born in Basra, Iraq in 1974.