Shamsia hassani biography books

She makes vibrant murals and paintings, depicting women as strong, independent figures. Her art has changed the usual depiction of Afghan women, discarding the Western paternalist gaze who portrays them as the passive victims of violent eastern men - a trope oh so sadly overused in Western narratives. Shamsia empowers women in a male dominated society and paints them as human beings who are proud, loud, and can bring positive changes in people’s lives.⁠
⁠
Shamsia has motivated hundreds of Afghans to bring out their creativity through her graffiti festival, art classes and exhibitions all around the world. It was a very important step after decades of Taliban rule, who notoriously blocked out all forms of public art, and forced women to stay indoors.⁠
⁠
Now, as art and women are threatened once again, Shamsia is still painting, but with a broken heart. ⁠She recently spoke up on how some of her paintings in Kabul have been erased by the Talibans:

‘In the recent years I was complaining that people destroy/remove my graffitis. I was thinking that time is needed for people to get educated and then they will have a better understanding of Art. I never imagined that our world will suddenly fall and we will never get to the day that I was waiting for.’

Shamsia Hassani is likely to be one of the busiest artists in Afghanistan. When the country’s only female  graffiti writer is not teaching art in Kabul’s university or roaming the U.S., U.K. or Vietnam showcasing her artwork, she’s making a statement on women’s equality.

Shamsia sprays powerful, dreamy burqa-covered women on hidden walls, corners or alleyways in Kabul’s dusty streets. “[Women in burqas] are a symbol to change the minds of those that think that a covered woman can’t do anything.” Shamsia says, defiantly. “They are women, they can do anything. They are like normal people! I paint women with stronger shapes, movement and life to show them as being part of society.”

Twenty-six-year-old Shamsia was born in Kandahar, Afghanistan. She went to Iran hoping to study art but was denied the opportunity and returned home, eventually embracing graffiti in December, 2010 after attending the first street art workshop in Afghanistan, held by Argentine artist Chu. Since that early encounter, she has developed her own distinctive style, using paint and colour to raise the issue of women’s rights.

“Afghan graffiti contains lots of deep messages that often aren’t present in the West,” she explains. “For my artwork I’m not looking for any special technique. I only have one style and I don’t care if it’s good or bad quality. I’m not inspired by anyone.”

Painting in Afganhistan presents several challenges: from the scarce supply of spray cans to resisting Islamist zealots to the constant threat of bomb attacks. If there is no chance of finding a safe place to paint, Shamsia makes digital graffiti, adding her artwork to photographs of Afghan streets. Whatever the challenges, Shamsia will continue to use art to fight for peace and freedom for Afghanistan’s women. “It’s hard to use art to stop war, but I believe we can change lots of people’s minds and share our ideas; we can say to them that art can bring change.”

Find out more about Shamsia.

Afghan artist (b. 1988)

Shamsia Hassani (Dari:شمسیه حسنی; néeOmmolbanin Hassani; born 9 April 1988 in Iran to refugee Afghan parents) is an Afghan street artist, a fine arts lecturer, and the associate professor of Drawing and Anatomy Drawing at the Kabul University. She has popularized "street art" in the streets of Kabul and has exhibited her art in several countries including India, Iran, Germany, United States of America, Switzerland, Vietnam, Norway, Denmark, Turkey, Italy, Canada, and in diplomatic missions in Kabul. Hassani paints graffiti in Kabul to bring awareness to the war years. In 2014, Hassani was named one of FP's top 100 global thinkers. She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2021.

Biography

Hassani was born in 1988 and spent her childhood in Iran; her parents had temporarily immigrated there, from Kandahar, Afghanistan during the war. Hassani showed interest in painting from a young age. While in the ninth grade, Hassani lacked access to art classes, as it was not permitted to Afghans in Iran. Upon her return to Kabul in 2005, she pursued a degree at Kabul University in arts. Hassani holds a BA degree in painting and a master's degree in visual arts from Kabul University in Afghanistan.

She later began lecturing and eventually became the associate professor of Drawing and Anatomy Drawing at Kabul University, establishing Berang Arts, a contemporary art collective. Creating colorful graffiti, Hassani works to m