Artists create wax figures for new Basra museum - in pictures

New cultural attraction in Iraqi city will offer visitors a showcase of the region's customs and traditions

An artist works on semi-assembled wax figures to be displayed in a new museum in Basra, Iraq June 12, 2023. REUTERS / Mohammed Aty

Due to open in about three months, the museum focusing on Basra's heritage will offer visitors a glimpse into the region's customs and traditions through scenes featuring wax statues in different environments, such as a traditional hammam, the Iraqi marshes or a textile workshop

A team of artists from Iran did much of the work in their home country and brought the figures to Basra to finalise details and assemble them

Artists work on semi-assembled wax figures to be displayed in the new museum in Basra

Funded by the local administration, the museum is located in a traditional building featuring 'shanasheel', traditional balconies with ornate woodwork

Some of the human wax figures that will be used to build scenes depicting traditional life

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