'Each piece carries a different meaning'
Female students showcase art, design talent in Najaf exhibition
NAJAF — Female students from the Najaf Institute of Fine Arts held an exhibition Saturday featuring a diverse range of visual artworks, including abstract paintings, wooden crafts, decorative designs, and calligraphy. The event provided a platform for the participants to explain the meanings behind their works—some addressing themes of breaking societal constraints, while others depicted maternal struggles, love, and human emotions.
The exhibition also included a fashion show and traditional music performances, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Anwaar Haider, a fine arts student, showcased several works, including wood-burning art and oil paintings. “Each piece carries a different meaning,” Haider told 964media, noting that her wood-burning work represented images from her imagination, while other pieces reflected themes like a mother’s suffering.
Another student, Tamam Shamkhi, presented four pieces created with pencil, wood, and acrylic. “Most of my works express strength and breaking free from restrictions,” Shamkhi said, adding that her wooden piece symbolizes warmth and affection.
Institute director Huda Ismail stressed the need for greater support in marketing student creations. “All materials, from colors and frames to beads and threads, were funded by the students themselves,” she said. Ismail called on authorities to establish dedicated spaces to sell these works rather than leaving them in storage.
This exhibition marks the institute’s second festival, drawing contributions from all departments, including decorative arts, visual arts, and design.
University exhibitions have become a regular occurrence across the country. In late November 2024, the University of Kufa’s Innovation and Patent Exhibition attracted nearly 1,000 high school students, offering them a glimpse into cutting-edge inventions by university students. In February last year, the College of Fine Arts at Wasit University showcased an exhibition titled “Strings of the Third,” highlighting the design endeavors of third-year pupils.
