In this article Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi profiles Jewad Selim, who was a central figure in Iraq’s 20th century cultural scene, responsible for some of the country’s most important post-revolution art. Read more »
Iraq
Kadhim Haidar: He Told Us How It Happened
In Iraq, popular opposition to The Baghdad Pact reached a climax after the attack on Egypt in 1956. Kadhim Haidar’s, “He Told Us How It Happened,” examines the immense political repression that activists faced during that time. Learn more in this AJ+ episode with Sultan. Read more »
Afifa Aleiby: War Painting
In this episode of AJ+ Arabic, Sultan takes a classic look at Afifa Luaibi’s powerful painting, “The Destruction of Iraq,” which was painted around the time of the 1991 Gulf War. Read more »
Dia Azzawi: Mission of Destruction
In this AJ+ Arabic story, Sultan discusses an epic sized mural created by Dia Azzawi in the aftermath of the occupation of Iraq in 2003. The piece is a direct response to US President George Bush Jr.’s in which he said his infamous words, “mission accomplished.” Read more »
Huda Lutfi: Democracy is Coming
In 2003, Egyptian artist Huda Lutfi’s piece was created in opposition to the war on Iraq. Mostly gray, the painting shows Um Kalthoum, wearing a halo formed by the sarcastic words, “Democracy is Coming,” staring at ominous jets in the sky. Watch as Sultan takes a closer look at the piece in this AJ+ Arabic story. Read more »
Faisal Laibi: The Martyrs
Faisal Laibi’s powerful piece, “Martyrs” captures the death brought on to Iraq in the late seventies after the purge of the communists by the Baathists in the country. In this AJ+ Arabic story, Sultan takes a closer look at this piece. Read more »