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Leading Iraqi artist dies
By Ahmed Janabi
Friday 23 July 2004, 13:05 Makka Time, 10:05 GMT
The Martyr sculpture represents those killed in the Iraq-Iran war
Ismaiel Fattah, a leading Iraqi artist has died one hour after a private plane flew him back from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to his hometown, Baghdad.
Fattah, who died on Thursday, is best known for designing the
Martyr sculpture in Baghdad, regarded as an artistic masterpiece combining fine art and architecture.
The sculpture, which includes 550 tonnes of steel, consists of two separate half-domes decorated with Abbasid ornament and a five metre high flag rising from its centre.
The sculpture is an artisitic illusion. From a distance it appears to be one complete dome but as the viewer approaches they see the structure opening to reveal a mast draped with the Iraqi flag.
A spring of water rises from the ground between the domes, to represent the eternity of martyrs' blood.
Unveiled in 1986 it was classified as the most beautiful design in the Middle East by the Art in America magazine.
Background
Ismaiel Fattah was born in the southern Iraqi city of Basra in 1934 and earned a diploma in painting in 1956 and in sculpture two years later.
In 1964, after gaining a degree in sculpture from Rome's Fine Art Academy, he returned to his native country where he became a university professor.
US soldiers by the Martyr
sculpture, Baghdad
His works still decorate a number of Baghdad's streets and roundabouts to this day, like the al-Rasafi sculpture (Ma'arouf al-Risafi is a prominent modern Iraqi poet) on a central Baghdad roundabout which acquired the name of the artwork and became known as al-Rasafi roundabout.
As the 2003 war with Iraq was drawing closer he was not able to continue his treatment for stomach cancer, so he left for the United Arab Emirates, where he received the necessary medical attention.
His close friend and colleague, director Sabri al-Rammahi, told Aljazeera.net that Fattah had wished to die in his most beloved city, Baghdad.
"He is one of the pioneers of Iraqi art. We have lost one of Iraq's national symbols. Fattah represents a generation of great Iraqi artists that is fading out amid chaos and anarchy that will kill every artistic talent," al-Rammahi said.
"He called me shortly before he died, and said I feel I am dying, I want to die in Baghdad. He asked his family to take him to Baghdad, where he got what he always wanted."
--
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Home Site Guide Contact Us Set As HomePage Add to favorites
Leading Iraqi artist dies
By Ahmed Janabi
Friday 23 July 2004, 13:05 Makka Time, 10:05 GMT
The Martyr sculpture represents those killed in the Iraq-Iran war
Ismaiel Fattah, a leading Iraqi artist has died one hour after a private plane flew him back from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to his hometown, Baghdad.
Fattah, who died on Thursday, is best known for designing the
Martyr sculpture in Baghdad, regarded as an artistic masterpiece combining fine art and architecture.
The sculpture, which includes 550 tonnes of steel, consists of two separate half-domes decorated with Abbasid ornament and a five metre high flag rising from its centre.
The sculpture is an artisitic illusion. From a distance it appears to be one complete dome but as the viewer approaches they see the structure opening to reveal a mast draped with the Iraqi flag.
A spring of water rises from the ground between the domes, to represent the eternity of martyrs' blood.
Unveiled in 1986 it was classified as the most beautiful design in the Middle East by the Art in America magazine.
Background
Ismaiel Fattah was born in the southern Iraqi city of Basra in 1934 and earned a diploma in painting in 1956 and in sculpture two years later.
In 1964, after gaining a degree in sculpture from Rome's Fine Art Academy, he returned to his native country where he became a university professor.
US soldiers by the Martyr
sculpture, Baghdad
His works still decorate a number of Baghdad's streets and roundabouts to this day, like the al-Rasafi sculpture (Ma'arouf al-Risafi is a prominent modern Iraqi poet) on a central Baghdad roundabout which acquired the name of the artwork and became known as al-Rasafi roundabout.
As the 2003 war with Iraq was drawing closer he was not able to continue his treatment for stomach cancer, so he left for the United Arab Emirates, where he received the necessary medical attention.
His close friend and colleague, director Sabri al-Rammahi, told Aljazeera.net that Fattah had wished to die in his most beloved city, Baghdad.
"He is one of the pioneers of Iraqi art. We have lost one of Iraq's national symbols. Fattah represents a generation of great Iraqi artists that is fading out amid chaos and anarchy that will kill every artistic talent," al-Rammahi said.
"He called me shortly before he died, and said I feel I am dying, I want to die in Baghdad. He asked his family to take him to Baghdad, where he got what he always wanted."
--
The Design-L list for art and architecture, since 1992...
To subscribe, send mailto:design-l-subscribe-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.
To signoff, send mailto:design-l-unsubscribe-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Visit archives: http://lists.psu.edu/archives/design-l.html
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