In Tahrir Square in central Baghdad, protesters translate the "revolution" in which they seek to "overthrow the regime," through colorful murals showing the state they hope their country will be.

Fatima Hossam, 20, wearing plastic gloves covered in colors, seems too busy directing a painting team to carry out murals.

The young woman, along with others, recently produced an Iraqi version of the American icon Nome Parker, famous in World War II, in reference to the generation of girls taking part in the protests. The words “so are our women” were also added.

Fatima painted another mural, on the side of a tunnel running under Tahrir Square, for a woman waving a key slogan to Iraqi demonstrators, saying, "We want a homeland.

"We have a lot of artists in our country, but they have nowhere to express their art, so we decided to use Tahrir Square for an artistic revolution in addition to ours," the young woman, who wears a pink veil, told AFP.

"We are the generation of change," said painter Mohamed Abdel Wahab, 23.

"This change is for the better," says the young man, who is rounded by dozens of others on the side of the tunnel, whose murals covered tens of meters of walls.

He continues to painstakingly map Iraq in white against a black background, gradient to its edges by drawing slogans such as those raised by protesters in Tahrir Square.

In the meantime, another painter writes the word "love" put by blood-stained hands, explaining that dozens of "martyrs" have fallen since the first of October.

"We want to restore the colors and joy" in Iraq, which has suffered for 40 years in successive wars, siege, sectarian violence and attacks by terrorist organizations.

Mohammed Abbas, 38, a Baghdadi who cuts his way every morning through the tunnel 16 years ago to get to work, believes the goal has been achieved.
"From 16 years ago, I have not seen this place so beautiful," Abbas explains. "Our country really needs this."

Ibrahim, 39, has decided to tour the tunnel, which turns into a festival every afternoon.
“These artists, with a little of what is available, sent a peaceful message to the whole world,” says Ibrahim. "We tell the world that the Iraqi people are alive."