The cultural blockade is part of an all-out unjust siege imposed on Iraq. The cultural contact with the world has been accordingly impossible. And the Iraqi artists "Painters and sculptors" have of course been hard hit by the blockade. The needed materials, including inks and paints, let alone canvases, have virtually disappeared. ..... Read more

After a rather long absence, both Amer Fatuhi and Burhan Saleh recently presented worthwhile efforts in their exhibition round the theme "The Siege". Held at the Iraqi Modern Art Center, the exhibition is number nine in the series of new Experiences launched by the Arts Department in 1991 and is still on. ..... Read more

The first impression one had when entering Amer Fatuhi’s second one-man show (Al-Riwaq Art Gallery, October 21-28) was sheer surprise. First of all in the twenty paintings there were no shenashils, no arches, no domes and no Baghdadi cafes, sougs or bazaars. The figures that appear in the paintings are unfamiliar and extremely out of place. ..... Read more

It’s a far cry from being forced to immortalize Saddam Hussein in murals all over Iraq. When the Baath Party approached Amer Fatuhi, a well-established Iraqi artist, to paint portraits of the former Iraqi leader, he refused. He said he simply could not accept "blood money"...... Read more

Whether has Amer Fatuhi declared his opposition to painting, or whether he has preferred to slip away silently to preform his works, he was and still is trying his best to make his works bring to him the conservatives’ curse and the modernists’ questions. He led his way in life similar to the stray son who has made up his mind in a moment that he has no father!..... Read more

On November 21st, 2004 while Layla, a mother of two orphans, was heading home at Al-Dawara in Baghdad, a fanatic Islamist thug stopped her and ordered her to take off her Cross so she could become clean again!..... Read more

Hundreds of prominent Iraqi artists and intellectuals, among them experts who enjoy Arab and international reputation for their outstanding works in different fields, fled their country to Jordan in protest against war, dictatorship, and abuse of human rights after the Gulf War. Their high concentration in Amman and to a lesser extent in other cities and their attempt to integrate into the society triggered different responses from Jordanian intellectuals...... Read more