Will continue street art until society gets free of violence: Badghis artist

QALA-I-NAW (Pajhwok): An artist from western Badghisi province, who has painted slogans against violence and promoting peace in streets of Qala-i-Naw, the provincial capital, says that he would continue the street art until the society gets free of violence.

SeyedHamedHami is a 35-year-old artist and painter from Badghisi. For many years, he has been using brushes, pencils and paper in his artistic works.

His passion for painting encouraged him to join the Faculty of Fine Arts of Herat University 14 years ago and received a degree in the field. He has more than 400 paintings, most of which are about peace and slogans for end to violence.

He is engaged in painting on street walls and roads of Qala-i-Naw city. On one of the city streets, he is carefully using painting tools to convey the message of non-violence in families and about the beauty of peace.

Overwhelmed by the dream of peace and painting a pigeon on the wall, he said, “I try hard so my paintings produce an effective result and attract people’s attention to the message of peace.”

Hami said that drawing and painting pigeons of peace with various slogans had now become part of his day-to-day activities, and he paints messages of peace and elimination of violence on the city streets to enlighten the public.

“By painting the streets, I try to explain the importance of peace and the consequences of violence to the people, so that people will never follow extremism and oppression,” he said.

He said peace was the need of all people, particularly artists who would display their works in peace and security. “Whenever I take my brush and ink, I choose a peaceful and green environment, peace is the demand of all people and all hopes for its arrival, all people want the chaotic situation to end and everyone follow their duties.”

He says as most of his paintings are dedicated to peace, non-violence and a safe society, he will continue the profession as long as Afghanistan become free of war and violence and people live in full security.

Hami believes that people receive positive messages from street messages about peace and non-violence.

“Sometimes people encourage me to continue the art when they see the messages on walls because they’re inspired by these murals,” he added.

Abdul Rahman, a resident of  Qala-i-Naw city, said that he has seen street paintings of Hami. “The arts of Hami are really beautiful the same like the word of peace. When I see these paintings, I get positive message that images a society free of war and violence.”

Abdul Rahman, like millions of Afghans, now expects a non-violent society, which Hami displays it in his daily arts.

In addition to murals and paintings about peace, Hami also paints messages related to the prohibition of violence against women, fight against corruption, environment protection, and the protection of natural resources.

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