Object story: Why Indian soldiers fought a war in Kabul
Between November 1878 and October 1880, the British army in India fought a series of battles for geo-political control over Afghanistan. One photographer followed along
Afghanistan
Din ne jab dhoop kou siyaahi mein badalte dekha
Din ne jab dhoop kou siyaahi mein badalte dekha is part of a suite of seventeen works called Naguftaha – e – Hawwa (The unspoken words of Hawwa) created by Arshi Irshad Ahmadzai (b.1988). The Koh-e Asmaai (mountain of Goddess Asmai) in front of the artist’s apartment in Kabul served as the inspiration for this work. To… Read more »
Koh-e Asmai – The unspoken words of Havva
In this essay, Arshi Irshad Ahmadzai takes us into the beating heart of her art practice that carries the fragrance of Najibabad and Kabul, and the poetry of Rumi and Ghalib
Havva ki Nakahi
Havva ki Nakahi is part of a suite of seventeen works called Naguftaha – e – Hawwa (The unspoken words of Hawwa) that, in gallerist Mortimer Chatterjee’s words, “explores the relationship of Adam and Eve (Havva ) in the Islamic tradition and the ejection of Eve from heaven”. The work is a typical example of… Read more »
The Remains of War
The National Museum of Afghanistan, standing at the crossroads of Central, Western and Eastern Asia, has been a natural home to an impressive collection of artefacts that spans over 50,000 years of history. Yet most of its collection has been destroyed or looted over four decades of war. The museum is currently at the latter… Read more »
The Fort of Bala Hissar, Kabul
John Burke was an Irish photographer who took some of the earliest photos ever of Afghanistan. Employed as a tradesman in his homeland, he applied to the British Army to work as an official photographer; he’s best known for his work during the second Anglo-Afghan war. Later, he travelled to Afghanistan at his own expense,… Read more »