Kabul is known for the blast walls that have been built throughout the city over the past two decades. These walls are built around government buildings, foreign embassies and luxurious houses of the rich to protect those inside from insurgent attacks.
The walls have turned these buildings and houses to safe havens for their inhabitants, but ordinary citizens are in limbo outside of the walls.
Some streets of Kabul have become narrow ‘canyons’ and ordinary residents are to be checked upon entry to get access to their streets and homes.
A group of Afghan artists and activists who call themselves ArtLords are painting creative murals on these walls. They are emblazoned with slogans decrying corruption and injustice, as well as support for women and human rights.
The group share the painting with street passers Source: Twitter
The group has created more than 500 murals in Kabul and 16 other provinces.
ArtLords’ co-founder and president Omaid Sharifi told SBS Dari that the blast walls have taken away public spaces from the city’s people and “have turned Kabul to a dreadful prison.”
The group’s latest work, on the walls of Kabul Provincial Government’s building, is a bulletproof Toyota Land Cruiser with its tyres made of bread and a slogan that reads in Dari, “they even steal soldiers’ bread”.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani once admitted that as a result of high corruption in the country’s security organisations, officials sometimes steal food from soldiers’ meals.
The mural says in Dari "they even steal soldiers' bread" Source: Twitter
Mr. Sharifi has tweeted photographs of their latest work and wrote, “55 per cent of Afghanistan's population live under poverty.”
“The cost of this car (used by MANY Gov officials) is equal to: 870000 Bread, Monthly Salary of 725 soldiers, Annual Salary of 145 Municipality Cleaners”.
Afghan officials fund their bulletproof cars, guest allowances, luxury guesthouses and business class tickets from taxpayers’ money or through “begging money from other countries,” said Mr. Sharifi.
“We wanted to remind these corrupt, traitor and unconscionable people of their work, that we know and Afghanistan people know what they do. If you don’t have shame, people will ask you one day”, he added.
“This is all Afghans say.”
According to him, some of Afghan officials commute to work with up to five of these bulletproof cars.
ArtLords’ president also said while Afghan soldiers are hungry on the frontline defending people, democracy and government, the officials in Kabul are busy “stealing public money”.
While ArtLords’ murals are the most popular of their works, the group has also expanded to produce street theatre, animations and short documentaries.
A nominee for anti-censorship award
The group has created more than 500 murals in Kabul and 16 other provinces Source: FB
The grassroots group of artists and activists ArtLords is among the 15 out of 400 shortlisted nominees for 2019 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards.
Index on Censorship, which describes itself as “a UK-based non-profit organisation that publishes work by censored writers and artists and campaigns against censorship worldwide,” announced its shortlist on Tuesday.
Awards will be offered in four categories of Arts, Campaigning, Digital Activism and Journalism. ArtLords is shortlisted for Arts Award along with three other nominees from Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The winners, who are due to be announce on April 4 this year, will be honoured at a gala ceremony in London and will receive supports and training for future works.
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