In a quest to express their emotions and to retain a semblance of normalcy, a number of girls and women have come together to exhibit their art at the Seven Colors Painting Gallery in Kabul.
These paintings not only display their artistic talents but also convey powerful messages about the restrictions and challenges imposed on women by the Taliban.
Many of the exhibited paintings portray the limitations that the Taliban has placed on women’s education and participation in public life.
The artists expressed their desire for these restrictions to be removed, advocating for women’s rights and empowerment.
Qorban Ranji, the organizer of the exhibition, said that the goal is to encourage Afghan girls to take up art as a creative outlet.
After schools and universities were closed due to the Taliban’s policies, some girls turned to painting as a means of expression and motivation.
Frozan Haqjo, who has eight artworks displayed at the exhibition, said: “The purpose of organizing such exhibitions is to show art to all girls across Afghanistan and to encourage them to turn to art, instead of staying at home.”
Shakila Ahmadi, another artist, emphasized the importance of using art to convey messages and express thoughts in a challenging environment.
“I displayed a lot of paintings that each convey special messages. When the schools and universities were closed [by the Taliban] I turned to drawing and painting to recover my motivation,” Ahmadi added.
The paintings at the exhibition draw a picture of many emotions, many of which are symbolic of dreams of freedom along with peace.
“Women have no access to education and cannot work and this bird is the symbol of freedom and peace,” said Husna, an artist.
The closure of schools and universities prompted many girls and young women to explore artistic pursuits and even start small businesses.
