Baghdad Monument

The Baghdad Monument stands tall in the heart of the Iraqi capital, as one of the most prominent artistic works created by the great sculptor Mohammad Ghani Hikmat.

The monument was unveiled in 2013, making it one of the last creations of this artist before his passing. It was completed under the supervision of his son after his death, in commemoration of the father and as a continuation of his rich artistic journey.

The monument consists of a tall column, atop which stands a woman wearing Abbasid attire, symbolizing Baghdad’s ancient civilization.

On the base of the column, praise poems expressing love for Baghdad were engraved, written by a number of major Arab poets, so that the monument would stand as a witness to the fusion of art and poetry in glorifying the city.

The monument includes nine poetic verses by seven poets who sang the praises of Baghdad.

In 2010, the Mayor of Baghdad commissioned Mohammad Ghani Hikmat to produce four artistic works as part of a cultural program to beautify the capital. This monument was one of them, and indeed the most symbolic and meaningful.

These works were characterized by a beautiful blend of ancient Iraqi tradition and modern art, making them prominent landmarks in the aesthetic scene of Baghdad.

The Abbasid woman in the monument embodies the figure of a reclining woman, with her back to the sun, gazing toward the distant horizon a reference to the idea that the roots of Iraqi civilization came from the East, and that Baghdad has always been a beacon of light and thought.

Years after the monument was built, some officials at Baghdad Municipality thought that its great height made it difficult for passersby to see, since it could only be viewed by raising one’s head upward.

However, that was precisely the essence of the sculptor's idea; he wanted to embody the greatness of Baghdad and its lofty status, a city that can only be seen when a person raises their head to it with reverence and pride.

Although it was temporarily moved to the Al-Alawi area (at the former site of the March Monument), objections by artists and academics led to its return to its original location, out of respect for the artistic vision that Hikmat wanted to remain complete.

Thus, the Baghdad Monument remains an eternal work that symbolizes femininity, heritage, and pride, and represents an artistic tribute from Mohammad Ghani Hikmat to his mother city Baghdad.