Iraqi artists strive for a better future in post-COVID era

BAGHDAD－Many Iraqi artists try to use their artistic creativity to raise public awareness against the scourge of the novel coronavirus, and inspire people with hope for a better future in the post-pandemic era.

Qasim Hamza, an artist and secretary of the Iraqi Plastics Artists Society, sat next to one of his ceramic works about coronavirus at a corner of the group's building, which seemed almost abandoned except for a few employees.

The Society's building has a unique design seemingly inspired by tents in the Arabian desert.

It was once a gathering place for prominent Iraqi artists and was crowded with visitors during hundreds of art galleries for decades since it was built in the middle of the last century.

Hamza is keen to communicate with people because he believes it is his duty to spread awareness among society members.

"The artist is usually affected by the events of society. He also has the duty to educate and influence society because there is an eternal connection between art and humanity,"Hamza said while preparing to explain a piece of his ceramic artwork about the pandemic.

Hamza tried to use a simple idea to easily reach the audience by embodying the virus and then placing it inside the red circle to symbolize the danger of the disease around the world.

It was a new opportunity for Hamza to reach people when the Iraqi Ministry of Culture inaugurated the 13th session of the al-Wasiti Festival of Fine Arts in late November in Baghdad.

The monthlong festival was very important as it is the first artistic event taking place with the gradual return of life after months of strict measures to contain COVID-19.

The festival was seen as an excellent opportunity for some 270 Iraqi artists to reach their audience by showcasing more than 300 works of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and calligraphy.