The tragic beauty of war
An artist painting a blast wall on Abu Nawas Street in Baghdad, part of a city program to come to terms with the slabs of concrete that have sprouted across the city. Source: The New York Times
It’s heartening to note that Iraqi artists continue to make art despite the immense upheaval in their country. In an August 10, 2007 article in The New York Times (With Fixtures of War as Their Canvas, Muralists Add Beauty to Baghdad), members of Jamaat al-Jidaar, “the Wall Group,” are profiled. These artists spent the past month squatting on scaffolds painting images of warriors, kings and myths from past millennia onto 52 blast walls made of 12-foot-high concrete beside the Tigris River.
As stated in The Times:
The new murals are part of wider beautification works financed by the American military, the Iraqi government and aid organizations as part of an often-foiled effort to renovate Baghdad, as well as to improve its security. More art projects will be planned for other sites if the program wins popular support — and if the artists stay alive.
They have no illusions about the dangers.
Their hope, though, is that they will avoid objections to the subject matter by choosing themes like the pre-Islamic Sumerian, Babylonian and Assyrian civilizations in whose scientific, legal and artistic achievements all Iraqis take pride.
“This is something beautiful to do such work, bringing to life these dead blocks,” said Tahar, 30, a graduate of the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad who is among those hired by the Ministry of Works and Social Affairs. “This is seen by all.”
Interestingly the artists have drawn upon pre-Islamic images that highlight the immense historical legacy of the region. Think of the Fertile Crescent, the Epic of Gilgamesh, the lawgiver Hammurabi, the greatness of Babylon, and the many gifts of language, art and science given to the world.
According to one of the artists, Hassan Ibrahim, age 45:
“Amid the wreckage and devastation in Iraq this is something good, something hopeful, that we can paint a brighter spot on a wall to make people feel better and more optimistic.”
Related Links:
Baghdad Gallery Owner Hopes Culture Can Dispel Hate (The New York Times, June 6, 2007)
Art Against the Odds by Steven Vincent (Art in America, June 2004)
Qasim Al-Septi, Iraqi artist profile
Baghdad Journal by Steve Mumford
~TAB
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Art’s healing qualities after (or in this case, during) times of trauma never cease to amaze me. I remember seeing a story some time back about the artwork that Bosnian children were making after the war there. The imagery was disturbing and tragic, but it was clear that they were processing and perhaps healing through their drawings.
I agree Gerry. The art world seems to have forgotten that the arts can play a therapeutic role, that beauty can enrich civilization. So much of modern artistic production is dedicated to making the political statement, to criticism, irony and satire. Note that the Iraqi artists have chosen realism to convey their message. Art has healing qualities although it will take more than a few murals on blast walls to heal the country & people of Iraq. MadSilence
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