Children's art exhibition showcases resilience in earthquake-affected Kurdish city
A young participant artist highlighted how simple materials can be transformed into beautiful artwork: "These may be simple clay pots, but through artistic expression, they've become beautiful decorative pieces suitable for homes and offices."
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - A special fine arts exhibition featuring works by children and teenagers opened in Tazawa, the center of Salas-e Babajani district in Kermanshah Province, in Eastern Kurdistan (Rojhelat – or north west of Iran).
The exhibition showcased 185 artistic pieces across three categories: paper-mache sculpture, pottery painting, and glasswork.
"We brought together 15 children for this exhibition, providing them with simple clay pottery to express their creativity," said Mukhtar Barami, director and trainer at the district's Children's Intellectual Development Center.
"Despite living in temporary housing nearly a decade after the earthquake, these children have produced remarkable artwork demonstrating their artistic capabilities," he added.
The exhibition represents a bright spot for a community still recovering from the devastating 2017 earthquake.
Despite limited public services and infrastructure challenges stemming from the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s and natural disasters, the center maintains an active membership of 1,300 children engaged in artistic and intellectual pursuits.
Young artists participating in the exhibition view their art as more than just a hobby.
Mahdina Ahmadi, one of the exhibiting artists, said, "While many people focus on traditional careers like medicine or teaching, this exhibition shows there are other talents and professions worth pursuing."
Another young artist, Aina Mohammadi-Tabar, highlighted how simple materials can be transformed into beautiful artwork: "These may be simple clay pots, but through artistic expression, they've become beautiful decorative pieces suitable for homes and offices."
Located at the border of Eastern and Southern Kurdistan, Tazawa continues to face significant challenges. However, the exhibition demonstrates how art and cultural initiatives provide opportunities for youth development despite adversity.
Samal Ahmadi did the original reporting for this article.