Baghdad’s art scene recently welcomed a significant event as the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities, specifically its General Directorate of Arts, hosted a solo art exhibition by Lebanese plastic artist Yousra Habhab, a member of the “Art Colors Forum.”
Titled “Manarat Beirut” (Beirut’s Lighthouse), the exhibition was held today at the Faeq Hassan Hall in Baghdad. The opening saw a distinguished attendance, including the Undersecretary of the Ministry for Arts Affairs, Qassim Al-Sudani, and the Director-General of the General Directorate of Arts, Dr. Qassim Mohsen. Also present were the Ambassador of the Lebanese Republic to Iraq, Ali Habhab, ambassadors from several Arab and foreign countries, and a select group of Iraqi and Arab artists, along with art enthusiasts and intellectuals.
The Director-General of the General Directorate of Arts, Dr. Qassim Mohsen, expressed his enthusiasm for the exhibition, stating, “We embraced a distinguished art exhibition by Lebanese artist Yousra Habhab, featuring seventy artworks that varied in their styles and techniques. This reflects a rich and important artistic experience within the realm of Arab plastic art.” He added that the directorate is committed to “organizing and hosting similar art exhibitions to support the plastic art movement and foster openness to Arab and international creative experiences.”
Artist Yousra Habhab, for her part, conveyed her “pride in holding her first exhibition in Baghdad.” She remarked, “This is my fifth personal exhibition, but it carries a special flavor because it’s being held for the first time in Baghdad, after the war, and in my second country, Iraq, which has always stood by Lebanon through all circumstances.” She concluded by saying, “For me, Baghdad is not just a city; it is a soulmate. Iraq for me is something different; it’s unlike any other place.”
