Apr 20, 2016
Mohammed Ghani Hikmat’s 87th birthday
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today's Doodle celebrates famed Iraqi sculptor Mohammed Ghani Hikmat. Hikmat created well-regarded works such as Scheherazade and Shahrayar, and the Fountain of Kahramana. Many of his sculptures were inspired by the stories in 1,001 Nights — widely know as the 'Tales of Arabian Nights'. An activist as well as an artist, Hikmat was responsible for reclaiming art taken from the National Museum of Iraq during the political turbulence in the early 2000s. His work is displayed in city centers and busy squares as an ode to his deep connection to Iraqi culture.
Mohammed Ghani Hikmat's final work, "Iraq Rises Again," was finished nearly four years ago. It celebrates the ancestry of Iraq and the collaboration of its multiple ethnic groups in building the country's future. Hikmat is remembered today for his devotion to his people and his beautiful depictions of Iraqi life.
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