
Underneath the dusty orange sky of a June day, I was sitting in the garden of the Iraqi Plastic Artists Association when a peculiar coincidence led me to meet Masood. Our shared love for art ignited a conversation that, even a year later and despite his relocation to Dubai and subsequent return to Baghdad, hasn't ended.
"I'm so happy you're finally going back to practicing art," I replied to his Instagram story. It featured acrylic colors and paint brushes, and he captioned it "FINALLY!"
"Since my childhood days, I’ve always found joy in self-expression” he said. "But eventually a canvas and a brush no longer were enough. I've always felt the need to break free from the canvas frame and express myself using my entire body. That's why I delved into performance art since 2020."
With crowds behind him and music pulsating all around, you can see videos of Masood's live speed painting performances on his Instagram profile, showcasing his captivating ability to merge movement, music, and emotion on a grand canvas. Swaying to the beat and letting his body transmit the vibrating energy and emotion into the stillness of the canvas, resulting in lively works of art.
In his latest performance art piece titled "The Life," Masood is seen half-naked crawling out of a tub of white paint, imitating the state of birth. As colors are splashed onto his body from all directions, capturing the state of polluting one's purity until reaching the endpoint of death.
But I still remember when he and I collaborated for his last project before leaving Iraq. With his suitcase packed downstairs, we went up to his studio. There, I modeled for him, bringing to life René Magritte's painting "The Son of Man," marking our last hurrah and his farewell to Iraq before his pursuit of dreams in Dubai.

Discussing the art scene in Dubai, Masood acknowledged its universality and openness, predominantly Arabic but enriched by the diversity of society. Each artist endeavors to convey their culture and artistic concepts. However, he noted that societal codes and expectations limit the art scene to a certain extent, given the predominantly Arabic audience it caters to.
This brought forth the question, "What are the concepts you wish to portray in your art but find constrained?"
"The main subject that I want to explore in my art but couldn't is sexuality, in all of its aspects, be it superficial or philosophical. It holds great significance for me to convey its essence through my art," Masood answered.
"However, the main hurdle remains that the society I reside in remains closed off and sensitive towards such topics."

When asked about the inspiration for his performances, he explained, "My inspiration comes from being in a meditative state, by being closer to my spiritual aspect and straying away from the capitalist aspect. The stream of ideas is a never-ending flow that eventually clashes with the reality of the financial demands it takes for me to execute my ideas and bring them to life."
A surge of excitement washed over me when I found out that Masood had moved back to Baghdad, further enriching the Iraqi art scene with his endless stream of ideas and concepts. Yet, I couldn't help but feel a sting of disappointment when contemplating the possibility that Dubai might have offered him a more conducive environment to fully explore and unleash his true artistic potential.
But at the end of the day, a creative soul like him will always find his way. For he is not just a performance artist; he is the art itself.
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