'The Dreams of Gona'

‘Transforming dreams into paintings’: Kurdish artist Gailan Abdullah opens art exhibition in Erbil

ERBIL — Kurdish artist Gailan Abdullah has unveiled a new art exhibition in Erbil under the theme of transforming dreams into visual art. The exhibition, titled “The Dreams of Gona,” opened Sunday at the Media Gallery in Erbil and was attended by city officials, fellow artists, and local art enthusiasts.

Speaking to 964media, Abdullah described the exhibition as an artistic project aimed at “transforming dreams into paintings.”

His paintings seek to turn dream visions into vibrant visuals through art.

The exhibition features 16 paintings. Abdullah noted that “the paintings serve as a space where dreams and interpretations meet.” The exhibition will remain open until Jan. 31, 2025.

Gona, his daughter, serves as the thread connecting all his paintings. Each piece revolves around her, reflecting fragments of dreams and subconscious experiences. He has been developing the project for over eight years.

Born in Erbil in 1983, Gailan Abdullah Ismail is a graduate of the Erbil Fine Arts Institute.  He later earned a Master’s degree from Vincennes-Saint-Denis University in Paris in 2017 and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Salahaddin University’s College of Fine Arts.

Abdullah is a multimedia artist, working in performance art, photography, video art, and installation.