HERAT CITY (SW) – In Herat province, Western Afghanistan, businesspersons and calligraphers voice dissatisfaction with the sluggish state of the market for the traditional industry of engraving and calligraphy on tiles.
The calligraphy and engraving industry on tiles has a long history in Herat, and now, the businesspersons of this industry say, it needs support.
Mir Ahmad Sabri Herawi, a 70-year-old man who has spent more than 50 years of his life working in field of calligraphy on traditional tiles, tries to preserve and keep this industry alive by establishing a workshop.
“There has been almost 45 years of war in Afghanistan, and all our artistic infrastructure has been destroyed in terms of advertising. We need a basic support from the current government of Afghanistan and the future ones. At the same time, our scientific elite, those who can at least be successful, can work and come to invest in art,” Herawi told Salam Watandar.
Meanwhile, some artisans and calligraphers in Herat province say that during the republic period, many students, including boys and girls, were engaged in learning this art in workshops, however now, due to the lack of market and the uncertain future of this industry, youth are discouraged from learning this art.
“I had a lot of students before the rule of the Islamic Emirate; I taught calligraphy about 25-35 female students and some boys. For now, there is limitation. I have four or five students. When we can train many students that our students be optimistic of the future that this art will be seriously supported.”
Rafiullah, one of the artisans of calligraphy on traditional tiles, also says, “My wish is that we do not limit ourselves to this art only in this workshop; rather, we should spread this art to all the provinces of Afghanistan and revive this art.”
Calligraphy on traditional tiles is one of the industries that has a long history in Herat province. However, based on the statements of a number of artisans of this art, recently due to the production and import of industrial tiles in Herat, their job market has faced stagnation.
On the other hand, the local officials in Herat, considering the importance of calligraphy on traditional tiles, say that they will try to keep this art alive and pass it on from one generation to another.
Hamidullah Ghiasi, the head of culture and art of the Herat Directorate of Information and Culture, said: “In the historical records section of the Information and Culture Directorate, a number of artists are engaged in the art of tile making, as well as calligraphy on them, and as an employee in the large comprehensive tile factory, they perform their duties.”
