Baghdad (AsiaNews) – Barriers built in Baghdad against terrorist attacks are being brought to life. With the backing of the city council young Iraqi artists are painting scenes from the life and century long history of the city. A small sign of hope in a capital which for years has been devastated by attacks and destruction.
Dubbed “concrete caterpillars” by the US military, the walls each nine metres long and two metres high, have in some places boxed in entire neighbourhoods and markets to protect them from bombings. They have now become canvases for the young artists. “"We have changed these dreadful barriers into a beautiful canvas," artist Ahmed tells Middle East Online. “"Most of Iraq's painters have fled," says Ahmed, explaining his mission. "Our children are growing without anything colourful. Our role is to introduce a little art into their lives so they know there is something more than just violence”.
Ahmed, is drawing a scene from the 1920s, of a cart and farmers entering Baghdad from its large western entrance -- something unseen these days. “The municipality wanted us to paint scenes from the city's daily life. I am free to choose what I want to paint”.
A private company working at the airport has agreed to sponsor the decoration of a four kilometre stretch of the wall. The company provides paint and other materials and pays 20 dollars a day to each artist, many of them students from an arts college in Baghdad who keep a large book containing pictures from Iraqi history on hand for inspiration.