— have erected these barriers to keep the ever-present danger of bombs and armed-attacks at bay.
But not everyone can live tucked safely behind these barriers.
“[ The blast walls are ] really making a distance between the 2 percent rich and the 98 percent poor people in the country,” said Omaid.“ So we wanted to bring down these walls and the only way we thought would be effective is by putting up murals, putting up messages— messages focused on a cause. For example, fighting corruption.”
Talking to people outside of Afghanistan, Omaid said he felt embarrassed discussing corruption with them. So he set out to tackle the issue. The result was a mural called“ I See You,” a haunting pair of eyes painted on a wall.( See image on page 8)
In Big Brother fashion, the eyes follow pedestrians as they go about their business. The image is meant to convey the idea that corruption is not hidden from God or people’ s gaze.
It is hugely popular, both with Afghans and the international community. This doesn’ t surprise its creator.
“ Those kinds of visuals really help in countries like Afghanistan where illiteracy is so high … So using that only visual, now that’ s the main brand against fighting corruption in the whole country.”
As far as results go, it’ s a relatively inexpensive way to get things done. Omaid compared his work to other approaches.
“ In the last 14 years, Americans and the Afghan government spent like 800 million dollars on fighting corruption. No one ever remembers one billboard or one message from those billboards or radio programs or TV programs. But every single person remembers‘ I See You.’”
While it might be a bit of an exaggeration to say everyone can point to this particular piece,“ I See You” certainly has had an impact on some very well-placed individuals.
“[ W ] e are all like these small islands doing our bit of work here or there. We have to connect, like somehow find ways to collaborate.”
At the Supreme Court of Afghanistan, judges have talked to Omaid about the probing eyes and their significance. Senior ministers have told him that every time they walk by the mural it plays on their consciences, and they make a mental note of every corrupt government official they know. Even the main government agency responsible for fighting corruption in Afghanistan has taken note and started doing murals of their own. But Omaid’ s art is not just for the elite.“ Whenever we paint on the street over a hundred citizens join me painting. What happened in Afghanistan is that art, painting, was for the elite, the cream of society, for that 10 percent. My work is art for the public.”
He’ s trying to spread his message as widely as possible, especially among young people.
“ We go there in the schools, we talk to them, we share our story, we show them powerful images, a lot of beautiful paintings, and then we encourage them to paint for a cause … So that is a very effective way of both inspiring these kids, encouraging them to think critically, encouraging them to ask questions, and also help them to find the problems and also find the solutions within those problems. And also a sense of ownership, a sense of involvement in the issues.”
Omaid says that skills like critical thinking are not typically taught in Afghanistan’ s schools or universities, but art allows people to explore, question, and challenge ideas.
“ Artlords has been a trigger for a lot of young groups, a lot of young organizations, to come up and start using creative ways to do something for making a difference.”
These are the stories that he wants to tell the outside world.
“ There are thousands of other groups and young people who are doing great work, very committed work. And they have a hope for their country, they are staying here … [ People outside of Afghanistan ] should know that we are here, that we are living, and that we are standing up for ourselves. And it will continue like this.”
His ultimate aim is to bring these different groups together, to unite them behind a cause.
“[ W ] e are all like these small islands doing our bit of work here or there. We have to connect, like somehow find ways to collaborate. … That is the only way that we can become this big wave that can really change a lot of minds, attitudes, and behaviors.”
However, even a few short years ago none of this would have been possible. Omaid can testify to just how far things have come in the past decade.
“ I was born in Kabul when there was war. I was raised in Kabul; there was war. I was educated and I lived all my life in Kabul. And I have never ever left this country. So I have seen the Soviet-backed government. I have seen mujahideen( guerilla fighters). I’ ve seen the Taliban, and I’ ve seen when the Americans came in.”
All his life there has been war. Yet, Omaid refuses to run. He is fighting to change his country’ s story.“ I am the change,” he says. Growing up Omaid was too poor to buy a book, so he rented one whenever he could.
“ But today I have access to information. I can reach 3-4 million people in Afghanistan on Facebook right now. I can do advocacy. I can reach out to the government. I can vote. There are so many things that have changed. Like for me, now I can dream. I can have a vision. Things doesn’ t look like impossible. During the Taliban I wouldn’ t have even dared to dream. But now, for me, it’ s like I can do anything that I want.”
FALL 2016 JOURNEY OF HOPE | 9