'Baghdad ‘99' Manar Zaini

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By Junior Signature Art Prize 2022
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Dimensions (HxWxD):

42 × 59.5 × 0 cm

Materials:

Oil paint on canvas

Primary Medium:

Painting

Medium
2022
Ready to display
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About the work: I created this piece in the beginning of 2022 after looking through my grandparents photo album of their original photos from Iraq , before the war. The photos showed me a different side to Iraq that I was yet to have seen, and the media was yet to see. The photo was taken in 1999 of my brothers playing happily in the garden in the sun. I feel like this breaks the stereotype often portrayed upon Iraq and a lot of the Middle Eastern countries as being uncivilised and violent, and shows that it wasn’t always a war torn country, but a country that has a strong history and culture like any other. I wanted to portray the beauty in my culture and contrast to the current situation now of war and illustrate how war can destroy a country and the happiness of the people in it. This relates to the reason I blurred the faces, because this experience is not a single person’s, but most people’s from Iraq. Despite losing the majority of its luxuries, they continue to surround themselves with the joys of immaterial wealth and do what they can to live a content life. I think this applies to many of us today as we live in a society so caught up in materialistic goods and should learn to surround ourselves with things that will benefit us internally and mentally. I am currently pursuing my passion for art by taking it for A-level. It has always been an interest of mine ever since joining secondary school and my passion for it has only ever increased since being exposed to it. I’ve loved the way in which art is used to communicate ideas , I think it is a good change from communicating with literature which we are all so used to. It’s interesting how it can be interpreted in different ways to fit each individuals imagination, allowing it to be personal to each viewer. Being exposed to so many different styles and forms of art has been a privilege for me; it’s allowed for my creative skills to develop even further - aiding me to apply my thoughts and feelings about the world into a more creative context. I chose to submit this piece as I wanted to raise awareness on the ongoing issues the Middle Eastern people have been facing for some time now - a lifetime for many. I wanted to highlight the beauty of Iraq which unfortunately has been torn to pieces by the media. Growing up, I would listen to stories of Iraq which my family had the pleasure to experience , however since moving to London I have only ever heard negative connotations revolving around the Middle East. As a result, I decided take this opportunity for myself to educate others of the joy and happiness it once had ; to emphasise the pride that others should have to come from a country with so much culture and history which has influenced many today.

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