It was back in 2012, while visiting Erbil (Kurdistan - Iraq) for the first time since he had fled his home as a teenager, when it struck Hozan Zangana that there were no proper spaces designated to art and design. The region is in a state of war, as it has been so often throughout history, but the absence of regard for his cherished cultural identity just felt wrong.

Already as a child, growing up in Erbil, Hozan was ‘awakened’ with a sense of purpose and he has since nurtured his dream to one day become a representative of his native culture. A native culture that, for too long, has been suppressed, its spoken language forbidden in schools, its visual language all but erased. For the sake of the future of the region and the people, their cultural identity must be restored and revived. For Hozan Zangana, a well-nourished sense of culture is arguably the single most important basic need to restore humanity. Hence when in 2017 he returned to Erbil - Hawler to locals - to reconnect with his origins, he came armed with a plan.

The Arbela collection was conceived to reflect Zangana’s method of heritage based design back to his own people and culture, and to transfer his knowledge to a new generation of Middle Eastern artists. Inspired by the ancient Citadel of Erbil, once called Arbela (from the Assyric Arba-Ila; ‘four gods’, referring to the four gates to the original citadel), the objects in this collection carry with them the memory of a cultural history that goes back 7000 years. From ancient construction techniques to the gesture of a woman in mourning, in all their condensed references, artisanal excellence and deafening silence they gently welcome the future.

Hozan Zangana’s plan with his Arbela collection, for which he got the support of the Ministry of Culture of Kurdistan, included the design and realisation of the first design exhibition in Erbil. The exhibition shows a series of abstract objects designed by Hozan Zangana and executed in collaboration with various craftsmen and specialists in The Netherlands - where the artist currently lives and works - and in Kurdistan Iraq, Italy and the United Kingdom. Materials used range from walnut wood, patinated bronze and anodized aluminium to linen textiles and dried cloves.
KISAL
Material: Different
Finish: Different
Size: Different
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
QAJI SHEER
Material: Oak
Finish: stained & Lacquered
Size: ∅ 400 x 458 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Faranjy
Material: MDF HD Waterproof
Finish: Bronze
Size: 1440 x 550 x 820 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Faranjy
Material: MDF HD Waterproof
Finish: Bronze
Size: 1440 x 550 x 820 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Faranjy
Material: MDF HD Waterproof
Finish: Bronze
Size: 1440 x 550 x 820 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Qalat Hunebench
Material: MDF HD Waterproof
Finish: Metal
Size: 2660 x 480 x 420 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Qalat Hunebench
Material: MDF HD Waterproof
Finish: Metal
Size: 2660 x 480 x 420 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Qalat Hunebench
Material: MDF HD Waterproof
Finish: Metal
Size: 2660 x 480 x 420 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg

QAJI SHEER

Material: Oak
Finish: stained & Lacquered
Size: ∅ 400 x 458 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
TEYRE BAZ
Material: MDF HD Waterproof
Finish: Car Paint
Size: 800 x 500 x 200 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg

TEYRE BAZ
Material: MDF HD Waterproof
Finish: Car Paint
Size: 800 x 500 x 200 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg

KISAL

Material: Piers Wood
Finish: stained
Size: 470 x 315 x 300 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Nane Tiri
Material: Walnut wood
Size: 600 x 500 x 400 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Nane Tiri
Material: Walnut wood
Size: 600 x 500 x 400 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Nane Tiri - Yellow
Material: MDF
Finish: Car Paint
Size: 600 x 500 x 400 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Nane Tiri - Yellow
Material: MDF
Finish: Car Paint
Size: 600 x 500 x 400 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
QAJI SHEER
Material: Nero Belgio marble
Size: ∅ 400 x 458 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
QAJI SHEER
Material: Nero Belgio marble
Size: ∅ 400 x 458 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
QAJI SHEER
Material: Nero Belgio marble
Size: ∅ 400 x 458 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Barmil
Material: 5 different colored stones
Size: ∅ 215 x 302 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg

Barmil 

Material: 5 different colored stones
Size: ∅ 215 x 302 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Barmil
Material: 5 different colored stones
Size: ∅ 215 x 302 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Daneh
Material: Onix stone
Size: ∅ 302 x 75 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Barmil
Material: Anodized Aluminum
Size: ∅ 62 x 70 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Kisal 24k
Material: Gold Leaf 24 karat
Size: 320 x 170 x 200 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Kisal 24k
Material: Gold Leaf 24 karat
Size: 320 x 170 x 200 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
MOM HALGAR
Material: Anodized Aluminum
Size: ∅ 150 x 51 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Kaxis
Material: brass
Size: 78 x 90 x 35 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Kaxis
Material: Anodized Aluminum
Size: 78 x 90 x 35 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg

Kisal

Material: MDF HD Waterproof
Finish: Car Paint
Size: 700 x 400 x 470 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg

Barmil & Qalat Hunebench

Material: MDF HD Waterproof
Finish: Metal
Size: 2660 x 480 x 420 mm
Photography: Erik & Petra Hesmerg