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Simple words portray horrors of Iraqi life

MUSTAFA JA'FAR'S EXHIBITION "Black Words In Red Ink" clearly illustrates that simplicity is the key to truth.

The 56-year-old Iraqi artist, who has lived in exile since 1974, was deeply affected by constantly recurring words in news reports in the run up to the 2003 invasion of his homeland and its aftermath.

"Every single Iraqi has heard words like: suicide bombers, blowing up, wounded persons, sniper, ambush, occupation, mass grave' etc. I consumed them and reproduced them," Ja'far explained.

Between 1969 and 1978 Ja'far studied fine arts in both Baghdad and Rome and held an exhibition of his contemporary Arabic calligraphy at the British Museum in 2004.

He teaches calligraphy at Birkbeck ...

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