POL-E-ALAM CITY (SW) – Once flourishing, the painting and calligraphy scene in Logar province is faced with an existing crisis, according to several cultural activists who spoke to Salam Watandar.
They highlight that compared to the past, there is significantly less interest and activity in these artistic forms.
Activists point to several factors contributing to this decline, including a lack of attention from cultural leaders, waning interest among youths in painting and calligraphy, a shortage of professional instructors, and the rise of printing services.
They stress the need for the Directorate of Information and Culture in Logar to actively promote the importance of these arts in cultural and educational gatherings.
Ehsanullah Niazi, a painter from Pol-e-Alam, the capital of Logar, said, “Indeed, the arts of painting and calligraphy have declined. The primary reason is the prevalence of printing large and small images and signs using computers. We want more attention to be given to painting and calligraphy.”
Mohammad Saber Sultani, another painter and calligrapher in Logar, emphasized that the de-facto government should organize exhibitions for artists and help with marketing their works to foster growth in these art forms.
“The biggest reason for the decline is the lack of art exhibitions and the insufficient encouragement of teachers, which has stunted the development of painting and calligraphy in Logar,” he remarked.
Mohammad Gul Tasal, the director of culture at the Directorate of Information and Culture in Logar, mentioned that workshops have been held to support the growth of painting and calligraphy. He added that efforts are being made to educate youths about the significance of these arts and to organize multiple exhibitions to showcase works in this field.
Despite the directorate organizing annual exhibitions for painting and calligraphy, these art forms struggle to find a thriving market in Logar.
