RAJAA HAMID RASHID

Baghdad_ Participants in the "Baghdad's Breeze Brings Us Together" festival called for enhanced support for women's creativity, the provision of broader opportunities for exhibiting and marketing artworks, and the reduction of participation costs in exhibitions, alongside greater attention to handicrafts and the empowerment of women artists through sustainable initiatives.

The Kahramana Association for the Arts opened its festival, titled "Baghdad's Breeze Brings Us Together," yesterday, Monday, June 15, at the Al-Alawiya Club Hall in Baghdad, with the participation of forty female visual artists from the capital and a number of other cities.

On the sidelines of the festival, the President of the Kahramana Association for Visual Arts, artist Malak Jamil, stated that the festival was held to support creative Iraqi women in various fields of visual art and to provide them with the opportunity to exhibit and market their artistic products, thereby contributing to their economic empowerment through the exhibitions organized by the association in various regions of Iraq. She added that the festival also featured the participation of five fashion designers who presented various handmade works as part of its activities.

She explained that the association's activities have not been limited to the local level but have extended to international forums, noting that an agreement has been reached with the Picasso Organization in Spain—managed by a relative of the renowned painter Pablo Picasso—to include Iraqi women artists in its upcoming events.

She also indicated that there is a project to hold an "Iraqi Night" in Tunisia featuring poetry, music, and visual arts, in addition to the participation of Iraqi cuisine in international festivals to present traditional Iraqi dishes.

She affirmed that the association works to encourage women artists through organizing bazaars, fashion exhibitions, and allocating annual awards for participants, with the aim of fostering a spirit of competition among young and pioneering women artists. The association also organizes educational courses in painting, assists participants in engaging with exhibitions, and provides free spaces for exhibiting and marketing their products, given the high costs of renting halls.

A Message in Colors

From the city of Sulaymaniyah, Kurdish artist Bushra Ismail participated with a visual painting carrying human and national connotations. She explained that the dominant green color in the painting symbolizes joy and life, while the blue refers to security and serenity, expressing what Iraq has endured of wars and crises, while affirming that the outcome remains with life and joy.

Passion for Painting

For her part, artist Nagham Al-Salhi, who holds a bachelor’s degree in administration and economics, stated that she has loved art since childhood and specialized in painting on glass, plastic, and wood, particularly glass and mirrors.

She added that her beginnings were as a hobby before she joined the “Al-Sultana Artistic Group, which transformed her hobby into a profession and then into a lasting passion, likening colors to a sea in which one continuously dives.”

Regarding the challenges she faces, she noted that the most prominent are the scarcity of certain colors in local markets, especially the turquoise color, which is highly sought after by artists, as well as time constraints due to her family commitments and daily responsibilities, and her constant attempt to achieve a balance between art and family life.

An Indian Touch

For her part, fashion designer Hadeel Saadoun Al-Sa'idi, owner of the "An Indian Touch" project, explained that her products range from clothing, accessories, rugs, abayas, cloaks, children's party dresses, and bridal wear—all Indian handmade products, available in both wholesale and retail.

She said she owns a shop in the Al-Jadriya area of Baghdad, and that despite her specialization in chemistry and her previous management of a pathology analysis laboratory, her passion for fashion drove her to leave that field and turn to the Indian clothing trade, opening her own boutique amid the growing demand for this type of fashion, in addition to executing designs inspired by international brands using Indian fabrics.

Natural Products

Zainab Thaer showcased her natural food products under the brand "Maimoun Kitchen," inspired by her son's name. She explained that she holds a bachelor's degree in education, but her passion for manufacturing natural food products turned into a profession she practices with care and love.

She said her products include extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil and its healthy derivatives, and various types of spices, in addition to olive oil imported from Syria, which is packaged in her own workshop using mechanisms that preserve its quality and prevent oxidation. She noted that her project has been ongoing for six years and supplies products wholesale and retail, aiming to provide natural food materials free from adulteration and unwanted additives.

Heritage and Creativity

As for Sanaa Obaid Dawood Al-Amiri, a retired teacher and owner of the "Joot Shanashil" project, she said she has worked to develop her talent with the support of a friend, specializing in handmade products using leather and jute, as well as producing Baghdad heritage figurines and panels made of natural leather depicting Iraqi symbols, foremost among them the palm tree.

She pointed out that the most prominent challenges she faces are weak marketing, insufficient appreciation for handmade work and the effort it requires, as well as high participation fees in many exhibitions and bazaars. She expressed her hope that relevant authorities would open the field for talented individuals to support and develop their projects.

Women's Creativity Deserves Greater Support

During her attendance at the festival, renowned artist Fatima Al-Rubaie affirmed that Iraqi women are unique in their giving, strength, and creativity in various fields of life, noting that their history is full of achievements and pioneering roles in various domains.

Al-Rubaie pointed out that Iraqi women have not received the attention and global spotlight they deserve for their achievements, emphasizing that Iraq possesses great creative potential among both youth and pioneers alike, but the culture of marketing Iraqi achievements still needs more support.

She concluded by saying that art and culture represent a fundamental pillar for the continuity and development of societies, affirming that Iraqi women will always remain a symbol of creativity, excellence, and giving.