Baghdad murals

A painter decorates a section of security wall with a sea and boat scene Photograph: Karim Kadim/AP

Local painters and artists are being employed as part of the project Photograph: Karim Kadim/AP

The aim of the project is to beautify the barriers that protect Sadr City with murals that represent Iraq's culture and heritage Photograph: Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty

The project began in early 2007 when Iraqi civic groups approached aspiring and student artists to make the damaged walls look more interesting Photograph: Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty

Artists are resisting requests to depict politically charged sectarian themes Photograph: Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty

The murals are now part of everyday life. The hundreds of concrete slabs were originally designed to shield against car bombs and other threats Photograph: Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty

Most of the murals are apolitical and depict scenes of wild nature, Arabian horses or the Tigris river Photograph: Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty

The murals show scenes such as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and temple towers that once dotted the Mesopotamian valley Photograph: Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty

There are also scenes from Arab myths and literature Photograph: Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty

And scenes from Baghdad's past Photograph: Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty

The murals are popular with locals and so far there has been no damage or grafitti to them Photograph: Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty