Empowered Creations
This collection of work showcases not only individual works but also meaningful collaborations that amplify voices and stories through a female Kurdish lens. Each piece, whether solo or in partnership, reflects a deep connection to cultural heritage, breaking boundaries, and empowering women. Explore the vision, the art, and the collaborative energy that have shaped my creative journey.
The Jiyan Archives
Founder: The Jiyan Archives is a multi-media collaborative archive dedicated to preserving and documenting the lives, culture, identity, and diversity of Kurdish women. The archive was founded in 2021 by Raz Xaidan.
Rooted in a matriarchal cultural tradition, The Darling Beast is a bold Kurdish creative brand founded by Raz Xaidan in 2014.
The Darling Beast
I find grounding in capturing my people in moments of quiet normality as I move through Kurdistan. These frames hold a home-grown realism—fragments of everyday life that feel both deeply familiar and defiantly ours.
A Lens woman of Kurdistan
Rebirth was a two-year collaborative project with Khadijah Abdul-Nabi, showcasing twelve diverse women based in Erbil, South Kurdistan. The project brought together women from various cultures, ethnicities, and religions, symbolizing the evolving feminism in the region. Self-funded and led by women, this project was an authentic representation of diverse female strength in the Kurdistan.
Rebirth
The Nostalgia Collection
The Nostalgia Collection is a handcrafted bag collaboration by Ya Khadijah and Bayal.co, inspired by traditional henna pouches. Designed by two female-led brands of Kurdish and Iraqi origins, it celebrates cultural heritage with locally sourced materials and homegrown craftsmanship.
The ‘RISE’ print was created through a collaboration between Raz Xaidan and the Lotus Flower charity to emphasise the importance of literacy in women’s lives. The purchase of one print, gave opportunity for a female ISIS survivor in Kurdistan to learn to read and write—often for the first time.
rise: For women
Femme In kurdistan: Shots of defiance
Photographing the powerful women of Kurdistan, revealing their strength, resilience, and determination to break barriers. From music to business, these women are reshaping the narrative, thriving where tradition often limits them.
The bijî collection
The Darling Beast and Ashti Apparel collaborated to create a groundbreaking T-shirt collection, launched globally on 17.07.21. The Bijî Collection features five unique artworks by Raz Xaidan, each printed on 100% cotton tees. The designs, inked directly onto the fabric, celebrate both style and artistry, making this all-female-made collection a first of its kind in Kurdistan.
