Amid ongoing restrictions that keep Afghan girls and women out of secondary schools and universities, about 160 girls participated in a painting competition in Kabul, using their art to express themselves and pursue their interests.
The competition, organized by the Arg Art Gallery, featured a live painting section where participants were given three hours to complete a portrait. Another section showcased works the participants had created prior to the event, allowing for a broader display of their artistic talents.
Organizers and participants told Amu TV that the event was designed to encourage young women to pursue art and provide them with a platform to make their voices heard. "I have been painting for about five years," Razia Qasimi, one of the participants, told Amu TV. "I learned about this competition through social media, registered and came here today to compete."
Seventy of the participants were students at the gallery, which provides painting instruction to young people. This highlights the crucial role such private initiatives play in the current climate.
Muzammil Nawrozi, a painting instructor who co-organized the competition, stated that the event was held specifically to support women at a time when their educational opportunities are severely curtailed. "The motivation for holding this competition was solely to support women," Nawrozi told Amu TV, adding that art offers a medium for expression for girls whose voices are suppressed in other areas.
Nawrozi, who has taught painting for seven years, also urged families, particularly men, to support girls who wish to pursue an artistic path. "Every girl has a talent, a dream and a voice that we must help amplify," he said.
Among the participants was Sadaf Sultani, a fine arts student from Kabul University whose studies were suspended due to the Taliban's ban on higher education for women. "I am very happy that competitions and gatherings like this are being held for girls and that they encourage young people to become more involved in art," Sultani told Amu TV.
At the competition's conclusion, cash prizes and other awards were presented to the top participants. For students like Sultani, however, the event also served as a poignant reminder of the opportunities they have lost. Afghan girls remain barred from education beyond the sixth grade, and women have been prohibited from attending universities since December 2022.
Source: Amu TV
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