
by Zia Forogh
This work, titled “Kabul – The Silent City,” reflects the reality of present-day Kabul — a city that was once alive with festivals, concerts, music, and the strong presence of women, but has now sunk into silence and deprivation. The dark colors on the canvas represent the weight and oppression overshadowing the city. The red areas recall a vitality and energy that have been silenced, while the yellow light at the center symbolizes a small window of hope and resistance. “Kabul – The Silent City” is not merely an abstract painting, but a silent cry against the disappearance of voices, faces, and sounds — especially those of women — and against the fading of the festivals and music that were once the soul of this city. This work captures a historical moment: a Kabul that is still alive, yet seems frozen without music and without the presence of women.