- Title: Mosul youth make the city’s walls speak in colour
- Date: 17th September 2019
- Summary: MOSUL, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 7, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MURALS ON WALLS PAINTED BY MEMBERS OF "ART REVOLUTION" TEAM ARTIST MIXING COLOUR VARIOUS OF ARTISTS PAINTING WALL ARTISTS WALKING IN ALLEYWAY ARTISTS WALKING PAST MURAL MURAL ON WALL NEXT TO OLD BUILDINGS VARIOUS OF PAINTINGS OF FIGURES REPRESENTING ANCIENT IRAQI CIVILISATION ON WALL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FINE ARTS STUDENT AND MEMBER OF "ART REVOLUTION" TEAM, SHAYMA OMAR, SAYING: "We formed the 'Art Revolution' team after the liberation (of Mosul from Islamic State). We saw that the city is full of destruction (as a result of shelling). We were wondering about our duty toward the city as artists. We grouped as young men and women from Mosul and we formed this team." VARIOUS OF ARTIST PAINTING WALL PAINTING ON WALL VARIOUS OF ARTISTS PAINTING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FINE ARTS STUDENT AND MEMBER OF "ART REVOLUTION" TEAM, SHAYMA OMAR, SAYING: "The area needs hope and life, especially that some children are somewhat depressed. There is no life in this area. We try, with these paintings, to bring life and happiness back to the city." CHILD WALKING PAINTING OF CHILD ON WALL ARTIST MIXING COLOUR ARTIST AND MEMBER OF "ART REVOLUTION" TEAM, AYA BASHAR, EXPLAINING MURAL TO CITY RESIDENT, NAJIM NASHWAN MURAL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT, NAJIM NASHWAN, SAYING: "These paintings mimic the walls that are still miserable because of the traces of bombing and fear. They comfort us. I returned back a year and half ago, I'm the second person to come back to the area of the Great Mosque (of al-Nuri). Since I came back, the traces of destruction are still in our minds, we are still troubled. Our children feel bad and now they see such beautiful paintings that spread optimism. The paintings make us feel that another life is going to start and that life goes on." ARTIST CLIMBING LADDER / ARTIST PAINTING WALL VARIOUS OF ARTIST PAINTING WALL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIVERSITY STUDENT AND MEMBER OF "ART REVOLUTION" TEAM, AYA BASHAR, SAYING: "We are reviving the heritage of Mosul through these paintings. The most notable symbols in our murals are the monuments that disappeared and some monuments are still there, we are trying to paint them and bring life back to them." ARTISTS WORKING VARIOUS OF DAMAGED BUILDINGS / BULLDOZER
- Embargoed: 1st October 2019 12:55
- Keywords: Mosul war in Iraq Islamic State art in Mosul Iraqi youth
- Location: MOSUL, IRAQ
- City: MOSUL, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Art,Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA001AX1OBBP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Young artists are brushing away the imprints of destruction in the Iraqi city of Mosul, painting the walls of the city with colourful murals and depictions of the city's former glory.
The artists, mostly university students, formed the "Art Revolution" group in early 2018, soon after Iraqi forces drove Islamic State militants out of their former stronghold.
Their most recent project targets the dilapidated walls of residential buildings in Ammu al-Baqal neighbourhood in the Old City of Mosul, which saw some of the worst fighting.
Resident Najim Nashwan said the paintings "comfort us", adding that he is still troubled by the destruction in the city but the murals help him see that life can go on.
Some of the murals painted as part of the project, which is funded by the USAID, depict landmarks and monuments representing ancient Iraqi civilisation.
Painter Aya Bashar said the aim to preserve the city's heritage and to "bring them back to life" especially the monuments that were damaged by fighting.
Islamic State militants ravaged and looted the areas they occupied, leaving behind houses, mosques, and churches in ruin.
The central government says it will need up to $100 billion to rebuild Mosul but local officials say it has not done enough.
(Production: Younis Qais, Maher Nazeh, Mohammed Katfan) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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