Iraqi artists showcase unconventional art exhibition in Basra

BASRA, September 14 — Ten artists from various Iraqi governorates have organized an art exhibition at the Association of Visual Artists in the Nazran area of central Basra. The exhibited artworks stand out for their unusual themes and the incorporation of colloquial expressions that mock advertising slogans and commercial language, all presented with vibrant colors. The exhibition is set to continue for four days.

Hassan Ali, a visual artist responsible for organizing the event, explained the concept behind the exhibition, stating that it draws inspiration from street language and popular customs.

Participating artists have borrowed words commonly seen as graffiti on walls, and some have reinterpreted vocabulary from traditional folk customs with a fresh visual perspective.

The exhibition originally started in Baghdad, then moved to Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, with its final stop in Basra where it is scheduled to run for four days.

One of the exhibition’s visitors, Shihzan Mohammed, expressed what intrigued him about the event, emphasizing the beautifully written phrases on the artworks. He noted that the exhibition’s peculiarity is its primary attraction, and he believes the artists intentionally aimed to showcase a sense of uniqueness and satirize societal negatives through their art.