- Title: Artist creates matchstick models of Baghdad landmarks
- Date: 27th September 2016
- Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ARTIST, ADHAM ABDUL HAMEED, WORKING ON MODEL OF BUILDING MADE FROM MATCHSTICKS ABDUL HAMEED TRIMMING MATCHSTICK WITH A CLEAVER ABDUL HAMEED ARRANGING MATCHSTICKS UNFINISHED MATCHSTICK BUILDING ON TABLE MATCHSTICKS ON TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARTIST, ADHAM ABDUL HAMEED, SAYING: "At first I made designs out of popsicle sticks, wood and other larger pieces of material, but I was on a search for a raw material, a unique one that can add a value to the design I was making, then I discovered the characteristics of the matchstick. One of them is that the matchstick is thin and tall, so it can be used in a variety of ways. For example, I can use them to make a design of a dome or construct a plain surface and many other designs. Thus, for these reasons I see matchstick as an ideal choice to best serve my purpose." MODEL OF BAGHDAD'S CENTRAL STATION AND QUSHLA CLOCK TOWER MATCHSTICK SCULPTURES OF SUSPENSION BRIDGE / TAHRIR MONUMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS TOWER VARIOUS OF ABDUL HAMEED WORKING ON MATCHSTICK MODEL PILE OF MATCHES ON TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARTIST, ADHAM ABDUL HAMEED, SAYING: "When I started the project I was still a student at Baghdad University, therefore my first work was a miniature design of the university tower. Being a student of the university, it was a piece of architecture on campus that I loved very much, so I decided to create it. It took me four or five months to make. I was still a beginner and I did not have the tools and I did not even know the correct way to make it. Now, when I look at this piece I feel unsatisfied, I see some faults, but I like it because it was my first piece of work.'' MINIATURE BUILDING OF BAGHDAD'S CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION MINIATURE BUILDING OF CHURCH, AND IN BACKGROUND A TOWER BUILDING HOUSING DEAN OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATION ROOM OF BAGHDAD UNIVERSITY MINIATURE CHURCH MADE OF MATCHSTICKS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARTIST, ADHAM ABDUL HAMEED, SAYING: "It is my pastime. It is a hobby to do things I love. I am very interested in the art of architecture, therefore it is just a hobby and not a thing that I do in order to sell or trade. The second reason is the fact that a design can take up to two or three months to complete, thus making it almost difficult for me to have enough designs to sell. Actually from time to time, I do get requests especially from people who appreciate this kind of art to buy a piece, however, I do not sell and prefer to keep them." BAGHDAD UNIVERSITY TOWER MADE FROM MATCHSTICKS UNFINISHED MATCHSTICK DESIGN ON TABLE NEXT TO A STACK OF MATCHBOXES ABDUL HAMEED CARVING A CROSS MADE FROM MATCHSTICKS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARTIST, ADHAM ABDUL HAMEED, SAYING: "The main idea of the project and the selection of Baghdad's building designs from the beginning was to create a complete city, and more specifically the city of Baghdad. The main idea is to build an entire city and not only one landmark out of matchsticks. My plan is to make 20 to 25 distinguished landmarks in Baghdad, and when I complete them I will build a city out of matchsticks and place the landmarks in their original places. And when I finish this project, I will God willing hold my first personal exhibition and also participate in other exhibitions." ABDUL HAMEED STANDING NEXT TO DESIGNS DISPLAYED ON TABLES VARIOUS OF MATCHSTICK MODEL BUILDINGS ON DISPLAY
- Embargoed: 12th October 2016 13:55
- Keywords: Iraq Baghdad matchsticks matches art landmark replica model architecture
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- City: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Art,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA00151CDZDH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Adham Abdul Hameed is a young Iraqi artist with a burning passion for architecture, and he's planning to build a miniature replica of the city of Baghdad, using only matchsticks and glue.
For the past two years, the engineering graduate from Baghdad University has harboured a dream of building the city's landmarks and monuments.
He had tested several materials for the project before setting his eyes on humble matches.
"At first I made designs out of popsicle sticks, wood and other larger pieces of material, but I was on a search for a raw material, a unique one that can add a value to the design I was making, then I discovered the characteristics of the matchstick. One of them is that the matchstick is thin and tall, so it can be used in a variety of ways. For example, I can use them to make a design of a dome or construct a plain surface and many other designs. Thus, for these reasons I see matchstick as an ideal choice to best serve my purpose," he said from his bedroom in his family home in Baghdad, which is also his studio.
The passion for matchstick building design began when Abdul Hameed was still at university.
"When I started the project I was still a student at Baghdad University, therefore my first work was a miniature design of the university tower. Being a student of the university, it was a piece of architecture on campus that I loved very much, so I decided to create it. It took me four or five months to make. I was still a beginner and I did not have the tools and I did not even know the correct way to make it. Now, when I look at this piece I feel unsatisfied, I see some faults, but I like it because it was my first piece of work,'' he said.
Abdul Hameed said he used photos on the internet to get approximate measurements of the buildings he wanted to create.
He then removes the heads of the matches before painstakingly gluing all the pieces together.
The larger sculptures can take up to 5,000 matchsticks and several months to complete, while the smaller ones usually take no more than three weeks, he said, adding that he has used more than 25,000 matchsticks since he began the project.
Abdul Hameed notes that he never sells his sculptures, but rather prefers to keep them, hoping that one day he can display his collections in an exhibition.
According to Abdul Hameed, a large sculpture would cost him about 3,000 Iraqi dinars ($2) to create.
"It is my pastime. It is a hobby to do things I love. I am very interested in the art of architecture, therefore it is just a hobby and not a thing that I do in order to sell or trade. The second reason is the fact that a design can take up to two or three months to complete, thus making it almost difficult for me to have enough designs to sell. Actually from time to time, I do get requests especially from people who appreciate this kind of art to buy a piece, however, I do not sell and prefer to keep them," he added.
His dream is to create a matchstick replica of the entire city of Baghdad, with all its distinctive monuments and buildings, to showcase at his own exhibition.
"The main idea of the project and the selection of Baghdad's building designs from the beginning was to create a complete city, and more specifically the city of Baghdad. The main idea is to build an entire city and not only one landmark out of matchsticks. My plan is to make 20 to 25 distinguished landmarks in Baghdad, and when I complete them I will build a city out of matchsticks and place the landmarks in their original places. And when I finish this project, I will God willing hold my first personal exhibition and also participate in other exhibitions," he said.
So far he has finished almost ten miniature designs including that of Baghdad's suspension bridge, the British-built Baghdad's Central station which took more than 5,000 matchsticks to create, the Liberty monument, and the historical Qushla Clock Tower which served as the military barracks of the Ottomans that dates back to 1868 AD.
Abdul Hameed is now working on building a replica of the Grand Festivities Square, which is now part of the fortified Green Zone, adding that the next project will be the Baghdad Martyrs Monument. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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