NOTE: We spoke with this artist in the wake of the Coronavirus lockdown in 2020/21. Soon after, with the chaos and uncertainty prompted by the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, PSA held the posting of Fatimah Hossaini’s portfolio and other pages until we were assured of her safety.
Photograph © Fatimah Hossaini
Photograph © Fatimah Hossaini
Photograph © Fatimah Hossaini
Photograph © Fatimah Hossaini
Photograph © Fatimah Hossaini
Photograph © Fatimah Hossaini
Photograph © Fatimah Hossaini
Photograph © Fatimah Hossaini
Photograph © Fatimah Hossaini
Photograph © Fatimah Hossaini
Photograph © Fatimah Hossaini
Photograph © Fatimah Hossaini
Afghan women have always been given fewer opportunities and have been known for weaknesses rather than having their strength noticed. The dark sides of their lives have been shown, such as the regulation to wear a burqa or being seen as mere property. The beauty of Afghan women has not been showcased to the world in a major way. This has become even more extreme in Afghanistan since the recent civil wars began. Only the dark side of Afghanistan and the plight of Afghan women are shown. Their abilities are largely overlooked and their voices unheard, showing only the one side of Afghan women – the dark side. The challenges that Afghan women have endured through history have been very different and arguably harder than anywhere else in the world. Amid all these miseries, however, there is another side of Afghanistan. There is a bright side of Afghanistan - the beauty amidst war.
In this photo series, women from different regions of Afghanistan - such as Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Qizilbashes, and Uzbeks - have stood in front of the camera, with their exclusive clothing. Their beauty and femininity have been showcased and framed into a cover of diverse cultures and traditions of Afghanistan. I have attempted to show the otherwise unseen side of them; to show that peace comes from embracing diversity and respecting the differences. I have therefore showcased women from different tribes of Afghanistan with their certain clothing styles and physiognomy and tried to highlight that the world is more beautiful when differences are appreciated, and imposed limitations are broken. Here beauty and peace are put together and Peace is always Beautiful.
2018-2020
20 November
