Ukrainian artists have created designs that Afghan artisans used to weave a collection of so-called war carpets. The project, Ukraine War Rugs, reinterprets the experience of war through art, bringing together Ukrainian artists and Afghan artisans. The initiators are war correspondents Yevheniya and Pylyp Maltzany.
Pylyp documented the war in Afghanistan for over a year and was impressed by the Afghan war carpets. This inspired him and Yevheniya to use this craft to reflect on the Ukrainian war experience. Each piece mirrors the events that have shaken both countries.
"The tradition of war carpets originated in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation in 1979, when artisans began to weave images of tanks and other military equipment into their works. This experience has become particularly relevant for Ukrainians since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, making this cultural connection between Ukraine and Afghanistan exceptionally timely," say the project initiators.
Currently, the collection consists of three unique carpets:
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"Moscow" — an ode to the Ukrainian warriors who destroyed the flagship of the Russian fleet, the cruiser of the same name. This carpet symbolizes victory over Russian aggression in the Black Sea, as well as the strength of Ukrainian missiles and drones.
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"Sun of Donbas" — a carpet dedicated to Donetsk. It reflects the eastern Ukrainian sun shining through the coal hills of Donbas.
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"Ukrainian Dream" — a vision of Ukraine’s future, which resonates not just as a dream but as a prophecy.
The first drop of the project features works by Oleg Semak and Oleksiy Voitykh. Their designs were brought to life by Afghan artisans, for whom this craft became the only source of income following the Taliban's rise to power.
The project also aims to collaborate with the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the future, using the carpets as a fundraising tool.
