Biography of an Iraqi creator
Hashem Al-Baghdadi is an Iraqi well-known calligrapher on the Arab and Islamic level for his perfect mastery of Arabic calligraphy and the beautiful style with which he wrote the letters of the Qur’an. Hashem was borned in Baghdad (1912 – 1939).
The well-known Turkish calligrapher: Musa Azmi, known as Hamed Al-Ahmadi, has authorized Hashem twice, first in 1950 and second time in 1952 that was considered as an award and not only a literal license. When Hashem Al-Baghdadi passed away Calligrapher Hamid Al-Ahmadi announced the famous saying, "Arabic calligraphy was born and died in Iraq."
He has many and varied contributions in Arabic calligraphy, especially in several mosques of Baghdad, among which was Haj Bunniya Mosque.
One of most distinctive works of Hashem was his black background strip with Yellow letters lines achieved in Al-Haider Khana mosque at Rasheed famous street.
He worked as a calligrapher in Ceneral Survey Directorate in Baghdad, and he had many artistic impacts on Iraqi, Tunisian, Moroccan, Libyan and Sudanese coins.
He travelled to several countries, including Egypt, where he sat for the exam in Cairo through the Royal Lines Improvement School in Alexandria and gained a diploma with distinction in 1945.
He obtained many credits from various calligraphers, including the Egyptian calligraphers (Muhammad Hosni and Sayed Ibrahim). He was deputed to Germany in 1979 by the Iraqi Ministry of Endowments to supervise the printing process of Qur'an. He was able to restore Baghdad old glory for Arabic calligraphy. He had many calligraphy masterpieces in the Museum of Pioneer Artists.
He issued his brochure rules for the Arabic calligraphy in 1961 being taught in many institutes of calligraphy.