Big art makes a city bright - 18th May 2022

Giant paintings are covering the grey buildings of Baghdad. These murals are painted by Iraqi artist Wijdan al-Majed.

She often continues working alone, late into the evening. It has worried some residents with traditional beliefs, who are against this. Some people shout at her.

Wijdan al-Majed: "I stay late in the streets, sometimes until midnight, 1 am or even 2 am. People worry, because women are not supposed to stay out this late painting. Also, people say things which I have learned to live with. Over time, I grew to make peace with them, and they began to accept me as I began to accept them. They got used to seeing a woman painting."

Baghdad's buildings need repairs. But materials weren't available for 30 years. There was a ban on international trade, the 2003 war and then fighting between local groups.

City mayor, Alaa Maan, decided murals would improve the city.

Alaa Maan: "The idea was to bring beauty to the city and move art to the streets – in order to get rid of the grey colour in the streets, which is the colour of the dust that has accumulated over the last 40 years due to devastation and destruction."

Al-Majed's murals include both famous people and ordinary Iraqis. Her latest mural's almost complete. It's of well-known Iraqi poet Muzaffer al-Nawab, who's written against bad governments in Iraq. He spent a long time in prison.

Other images are of artists like Jawad Salim, and Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid. Some murals are also of international people. These include saint Mother Teresa and academic Max Weber.

Who to paint is the choice of the mayor. But al-Majed turns his decisions into oversized public art, which she's pleased that more people can enjoy.