Hashim Hannoon

In a Few Words

Born In: Basra, Iraq (1957)

Lives In: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Background: An eternal optimist weaving tales of a better future as influenced by the hardships of war.

Style & Media: A colorful balance of realism & abstract expressionism.

Themes: Finding positivity in negativity, celebrating community.

In a Few More Words

Art critic Khalid Khudayer describes Hashim Hannoon as a realist and an abstract expressionist. Hannoon’s style of abstraction, according to Khudayer, captures the “golden medium” between form and color. Hannoon’s artworks spring from a unique place that is heavily influenced by the hardships of war. Though they are born from tragedy and sorrow, his works exemplify the rule of finding “positivity in negativity” as they radiate optimism with an overwhelming vitality.

Hashim was born in 1957 in Basra, Iraq. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sculpture from the College of Fine Arts in Baghdad (1999). After the Iraq war broke out, Hashim spent a few transitional years in Jordan. In 2009, he immigrated to Canada.

Since relocating to Canada, the concept of the city has become a prevalent theme in Hashim’s paintings. They invite the viewer to experience Hashim’s vision by capturing the essence of community and how it enriches the city, as opposed to mere, literal portraits of a metropolis. 

Key Exhibitions