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The catharsis of both art and technology merged together inside a small, poorly lit room in the building of the Iraqi Theatre Club, where "Bait Tarkib’s" latest modern art festival was held.
I walked into the dim room to see nothing but a laptop on a tiny table with a sharp-looking young man holding a VR headset standing next to it. Little did I know that I was about to get transported into a different realm dating back to 4000 B.C.
Amir Akram is a 24-year-old architect from Baghdad. Fascinated by the architectural monuments that once graced the land between the two rivers and seeing how most of them are sadly neglected by both the eyes of government officials and the people, Amir decided to take it upon himself to revive their glory again!
As I put on the VR headset, I was transported to a different realm, where I walked up and down the stairs of the temple, pacing through its corridors and balconies, overlooking a vast land graced with palm trees. The journey culminated in a grand wall decorated with ancient patterns and the figures of the goddess Ishtar. I was still mesmerized as he lifted the VR set off of my head and opened my eyes to the same dim, empty room we resided in.
"I chose the Ziggurat of Babylon," Amir explained, "because there was nothing left of it but ruins, so I began rebuilding it using 3D engineering software, and then I transformed it into a VR model to help people explore and experience this monument in its full glory".
As we were having a conversation, I saw the visitors of the festival gathering at the door, waiting their turn to get to experience what I had just experienced. I thanked Amir and stood aside as a young boy entered the room. Amir put the headset on him, and I watched this young Iraqi boy, even if for a few minutes, live in a past that is much more vibrant and glorious than a present as dim as the room we stood inside.
As Amir and I chatted, we watched as festival-goers gathered at the door, eagerly waiting for their turn to experience his creation. I thanked him for the incredible experience and stood aside as a young boy entered the room. As he put on the headset, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as I watched him become completely immersed in the past.
For a few brief moments, this young Iraqi child was transported to a time and place that were much more vibrant and glorious than the dimly lit room we stood inside. It was a powerful reminder of the potential of technology and art to bring history to life and inspire a new generation to appreciate the beauty of the past.
Follow Amir on Instagram to stay updated on his future ambitious projects (@Amir4eon), and experience his creation yourself by clicking on the link below and letting us know what you think!
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