After the Taliban’s return to power changed the course of her life, Kimia found in art a voice to express her reality and that of Afghan women.
From Afghanistan, where the spaces available to women and girls have become increasingly restricted, Kimia chose to make art a space for expression and resistance.
Her journey began with a dream of becoming a television journalist, but the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 changed the course of her life. She found in art a voice through which to express her own reality and that of the women in her country.
After leaving Afghanistan in late 2024, she carried with her experiences of fear, migration and displacement, but she continues to hold on to her dreams and looks toward a freer and safer future.
In an exclusive interview with Annahar, the Afghan artist recounts how art evolved from a passion into a space for expressing her reality. She also speaks about her experience as an Afghan woman, her journey of leaving her homeland, and the dreams she continues to hold on to despite everything she has been through.
If you were to introduce Kimia beyond being an artist, who is she?
Kimia is someone who has never given up in the face of difficulties. Through art, she has tried to move closer to her dreams and find her own voice.
How did the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 change the course of your life and your dreams?
The change of regime in Afghanistan completely changed the course of my life and my dreams. I wanted to become a television journalist, and I was studying at Kabul University, but because of the restrictions imposed on women, I turned to art and changed my path.
When did you first realize that art was no longer just a hobby, but had become a way to express yourself and your reality, and perhaps even a form of resistance?
I realized this when I began sharing my work on social media and saw how much people engaged with it and how deeply they connected with it. Coming second in an art competition organized by UN Women in 2024 also made me realize even more that art can be a powerful voice for our experiences and our reality. I also see art as a form of resistance against the injustice and oppression that Afghan women and girls face today.
How do you choose to portray Afghan women in your work, and what does the contrast between the burqa and the appearance of the face or hair reflect?
For me, this contrast embodies the difference between having a choice and having a particular choice imposed on you. I believe that everyone has the right to choose how they want to dress and how they want to live their lives. I want to show Afghan women as strong and resilient. Despite oppression and injustice, they still have dreams and continue to struggle to achieve them.
To what extent do fear and censorship affect what you choose to present in your work?
Fear and censorship had a much greater impact on my work when I was in Afghanistan. Since leaving the country in late 2024, I have been able to express myself more freely, although those experiences continue to influence my art.
How has the experience of leaving Afghanistan, and the uncertainty that accompanied migration, affected your art and your sense of identity?
Leaving Afghanistan and experiencing the uncertainty associated with migration was very difficult. It changed the way I see life and made me a stronger person, but also a more sensitive and affected one. For me now, home is wherever I am at the present moment, surrounded by the people who are with me. I have learned to be flexible and adapt to change.
How do you create your artwork? What tools do you use, and do you use artificial intelligence?
I create my digital artwork on an iPad using the Procreate app. I draw and develop everything myself, and so far, I have never used artificial intelligence in my artwork.
What would you say to a young Afghan girl who looks at your work today and feels that her dreams are no longer possible?
I would tell her never to give up. She should make the most of any opportunity available to her and continue learning and moving forward. As long as we keep moving forward, it means we have not lost.
If your art could speak directly to Afghan men, what would you want them to understand about women’s suffering?
I want Afghan men to understand the extent of women’s suffering because they are denied education, work and freedom. We need their support, respect and recognition of us as equal members of society.
What dream did you have to leave behind in Afghanistan, and what do you still hope to achieve through your art?
My dream was to live freely and safely in my country, close to my family and friends, without having to struggle for basic human rights. I still hope that one day we will reach the light and justice. Darkness cannot stand in the way of light forever.
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