The Brush is Mightier: One Man's Mission to Rescue Art from the Taliban

After the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 1996, they targeted many forms of visual art. The regime’s interpretation of religious rules forbade depictions of human beings and animals, deeming them an affront to God as the sole author of life. The policy condemned thousands of artworks to destruction and threatened artists and art caretakers with severe punishments, including imprisonment or execution. 

Dr. Mohammad Yousof Asefi, Artist-in-Residence at the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict at Arizona State University, risked everything to preserve art. During Humanities Week, join us to learn about Dr. Asefi’s ingenious plan to save art set for destruction by cleverly disguising it right under the noses of the Taliban during the early years of their rule. You will also learn about his daring efforts to smuggle his family and his treasured artworks out of Afghanistan when the Taliban regained power in 2021. 

The Center presents a week-long gallery exhibit showcasing artworks Dr. Asefi smuggled out of Afghanistan that capture the beauty and struggle of life in that nation, along with new works inspired by Arizona, Dr. Asefi’s adopted home. The exhibit culminates in an October 24 open house featuring a live painting session by Dr. Asefi, where he will create two new original pieces in front of the audience. 

War often forces a focus on mere subsistence and survival. Dr. Asefi exemplifies the spirit of the humanities. He shows us that while basic necessities — food, water, shelter — are required to survive, even amid the horrors of war, we seek art, beauty, and community to nourish the soul and feel truly alive.

About the artist

Dr. Mohammad Asefi is a physician and celebrated painter who has created thousands of pieces depicting everything from idyllic natural landscapes to Afghanistan's political crises, Kabul’s historic city center, and sporting and cultural events. He is most well-known for preserving some of Afghanistan's most prominent artwork by concealing living beings present in the pieces when the Taliban first came to power in 1996. After the regime collapse, he revealed that he had covered the pictures with temporary watercolor that he subsequently washed off. 

At Arizona State University, Dr. Asefi has been working to create a series of paintings depicting the cultural differences of Muslim communities worldwide (including in the U.S., India, and Africa). He has previously displayed a collection at ASU’s Harry Wood Gallery called “War and Emotion.”