Ali AlRawi, an Iraqi self-taught artist, commemorated his culture and heritage with a massive artwork depicting a mythical beast. The massive piece of art, measuring 203.76 m², set a Guinness World Record for the largest wire art and took the artist a year to complete. The ancient Assyrian winged bull was depicted in the art by tying copper wires around nails affixed to wooden planks.
According to the official website of Guinness World Records, the Assyrian winged bull, 'The Lamassu,' is a fabled creature made of a human head, a bull's body, and a bird's wings. "The ancient Assyrian Empire left a legacy of tremendous cultural significance, much of which has since been lost, but once marked the centre of a powerful empire in ancient Mesopotamia, which is today known as Iraq and north-eastern Syria," the report said.
"This is the biggest achievement of my life. "I remember very well how the pressures of life besieged me during its completion, to the point that I worked while crying at times," Ali told the records website.
Ali, a physician assistant in Ramadi, developed his artistic talent by scribbling on a school bench. In 2016, he became interested in creating art using wires after watching a German artist use that approach. "From the start, I drew a sail. Yet it took a lot of experimenting for me to find usable materials after that. "I decided on copper wires and 1-inch nails with small heads to ensure the monuments insulate heat, moisture, and scratching, since wood is also covered with three materials to serve this purpose," the artist explained.
He worked hard for a year to cover all of the board's dimensions with wires in order to break the world record. According to the Guinness website, the artist relocated the entire artwork to three different places in Iraq to complete the final measurements and filming. "The moment I learned about the result was quite touching, I travelled from far away to reach my family and tell them the news in person. "The Guinness World Records title is the culmination of years of preparation and perseverance, and I am really grateful," Ali stated.