Video: Ala Bashir speaks to Notts TV’s Sharon Walia about Saddam Hussein and his art
Saddam Hussein’s former doctor who lives in Gamston has launched an art exhibition in the city centre.
Ala Bashir’s exhibition called ‘Agony of Memory’ features paintings and sculptures of which some are replicas of what was destroyed in his home town of Baghdad.
He said that he had to be ‘very careful’ in what he did and said when he was around the dictator.
Speaking about being appointed to treat Saddam Hussein, Mr Bashir said: “In short, it felt like I was walking on the edge of a sword as any mistake would be a big problem.
“You had to be very very careful choosing your words as you wouldn’t feel safe if you made mistakes.
“He was an extraordinarily intelligent man and did not like to see a grey zone – it was either blood or white.”
People just went into the street to kill and steal
Mr Bashir was devastated at what he witnessed happen in his homeland before he moved.
He said: “There was a total collapse of law and order in Iraq and you could see in front of your eyes that this man was dismantling the country.
“People just went into the street to kill and steal because of the total collapse or order.
“My exhibition is designed to capture memories as memories play such an important part in life.”
The exhibition is open until Sunday at the Nottingham Society for Artists.
