“You don’t have to say much; paint it then!”: A Thematic Analysis of Mural Arts in Iraq (Mosul and Erbil as a Case)

Abstract

People find themselves in need of adding some inspiration indoors; interior designers likely let their customers immerse in the charm of some wall art decor with sweet family room wall quotes like “Love begins at home”. The art of filling walls exceeds the interior spaces for decoration, including outdoor spaces where different forms of artistic expression are used. This wall art matters among populations globally as it conveys different messages to the public and the decision-makers as well. The current article investigates Mural Arts (MAs) in Mosul and Erbil, Iraq. The researchers aim to (1) interpret the variety of themes that Mosuli Artists (MoAs) and Erbili Artists (ErAs) communicate via painting and (2) figure out the shared and distinctive theme in MoAs and ErAs’ artwork. This study employed a qualitative approach to grasp the themes of MAs in both Mosul and Erbil. The researchers gathered 60 Mixed Mural Arts MMA samples (verbal and visual); 38 in Mosul and 22 in Erbil in four months (from 8 August to 20 November 2023). They purposefully covered a broad range of sites including street walls, building facades, government institution walls, school walls, and bridge side walls in both cities. The researchers employed the Thematic Analysis Approach (TAA)by Braun and Clarke (2006) benefiting from NVivo 11(1999-2017) software to induce themes in Mosul and Erbil. This study revealed a total of 13 themes in both Mosul and Erbil in Mosul and 5 in Erbil. 2 themes, viz. ‘Environmental Sustainability’ and ‘Patriotism’ were shared. Other 6 themes viz, ‘The Transformative Power of Knowledge’, ‘The Horse as a Symbol of Nobility’, ‘Reviving the City of Mosul’, ‘Women Abuse’, ‘Unity for Iraq’, and ‘Martyrdom’ were said to be distinctive in Mosul whereas 3 other themes, viz. ‘The Role of Women in Society’, ‘Music Therapy’, and ‘Motivation in Learning’ were interpreted in Erbil.