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One of Shamsia Hassani's work from her series Secret.
The image is taken from the Hammer Museum's website.
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Shamsia Hassani is a contemporary graffiti artist from Afghanistan, as well as a lecturer at Kabul University for the Faculty of Fine Arts. She bases her work on her surroundings - her war torn country - in attempt to bring some light into the community. Her journey as a graffiti artist began in December 2010 in where she attended a graffiti workshop organized by the Combat Communication in Kabul. Prior to that, she had sketches and ideas on paper, but the workshop gave her the tools she needed to project her work onto the empty barren walls. Hassani sees graffiti artwork as a more accessible form of art as most people in her community are not able to go to art galleries and museums. There are several individuals who do not approve of her work, and sees it as being something which is not permissible. So when she is in the streets in the process of completing her work, she is very wary of her surroundings. She puts in a lot of time doing preparatory work to ensure she knows what she wants so that she may speedily finish her graffiti work when the time comes.
Despite all the risks associated with her doing her work, Hassani feels the need to stay within Afghanistan to implement change, instead of migrating for a better life to foreign nations like other intellects. According to Hassani, educated individuals like her may be able to bring change to the Afghan community, specifically on the role of women. In many of Hassani's work, there are depictions of women in the traditional niqab, some of whom have no facial expressions or faces. These women are usually depicted with musical instruments - which serves as their voice. Hassani expresses that liberation comes at gaining education and receiving fair treatment, not from the removal of one's garment; she expressed such words in response to confused individuals from the Western world who saw the niqab as a form of oppression. Her artwork serves great lengths on destigmatizing Muslim women. Hassani continues to be a trail blazer in her community and continues to inspire young women to go after their aspirations despite the odds stacked against them.
Despite all the risks associated with her doing her work, Hassani feels the need to stay within Afghanistan to implement change, instead of migrating for a better life to foreign nations like other intellects. According to Hassani, educated individuals like her may be able to bring change to the Afghan community, specifically on the role of women. In many of Hassani's work, there are depictions of women in the traditional niqab, some of whom have no facial expressions or faces. These women are usually depicted with musical instruments - which serves as their voice. Hassani expresses that liberation comes at gaining education and receiving fair treatment, not from the removal of one's garment; she expressed such words in response to confused individuals from the Western world who saw the niqab as a form of oppression. Her artwork serves great lengths on destigmatizing Muslim women. Hassani continues to be a trail blazer in her community and continues to inspire young women to go after their aspirations despite the odds stacked against them.
By Maisha Manzoor
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