Although known for his video works, Abidin has chosen to employ the classical and familiar medium of painting to depict a 21st century industry: "The idea decides the medium" he says.

Media is big business in Iraq. For decades Iraqis had to rely on a handful of strictly controlled state newspapers and TV channels. However following the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003 over 300 newspapers were launched (although many shut down) along with 50 TV channels thanks to the lifting of the ban on satellite dishes

It is not uncommon to count several dozen TV microphones during press conferences in Iraq. In fact microphones have become a status symbol: the more important the politician the more TV news channels would jostle for a space to prominently display their news channel microphone. As a result microphones first started to appear with colorful stickers that then became little boxes and most recently ever expanding sponges. The most serious TV news channels have stickers, cubes and sponges. The decking out of TV news channel mics is not unlike pimping motor vehicles. The star of the press conference isn't really the speaker, the star is the mic or "Lollipops" as Abidin calls them "They're like candy". Indeed, eye candy.