’A fore­runner of Arab moder­nity which he con­tributed to define to a great extent, an eru­dite painter, sculptor, draughtsman and etcher, Dia al-Azzawi has always firmly asserted the cul­tural her­itage of Arab civ­i­liza­tions and the enrol­ment of its use in con­tem­po­rary art.’ (Pascal Amel, Art Absolument)