"Now I am economically independent and can support myself and my parents with income from selling my paintings and offering training courses," said Houlia Hussaini, a girl painter of 18, at Kabul, capital of post-Taliban Afghanistan.
The hard-line Taliban during its reign from 1996 to 2001 had forbidden women from leaving home without a male escort and girls from attending schools.
Six years on since the Taliban regime collapse, today's Afghanistan has seen an increasing number of women becoming independent in terms of economy through their own wisdom and hands, like making decoration kits, dresses, and painting.
Houlia was excited about the latest women artist works exhibition at a Kabul high school where her painting works were displayed.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has visited the exhibition marking the March 8 Women's Day to pass on good wishes for his female citizens, who during the era of Taliban rule mostly were confined to their homes and not allowed to work outside.
Among Houlia's around two dozens of works being displayed are catchy ones featuring a damaged huge Buddha of Bamiyan, French Emperor Napoleon sitting on a jumping horse, an oil copy of a famous press photo on an Afghan girl, and even a water color copy of Karzai's portrait.
She has been working as a painter in Kabul since her parents moved the family back four years ago from years-long overseas refugee life.
"My painting is sold for 60 to 100 U.S. dollars, even several hundred dollars each," said Houlia. Pointing to the oil paint featuring an Afghan girl staring forward, she said, "This is among my favorite and will be sold for as many as 2,000 dollars."
Houlia, a high school student herself, now also teaches 15 students aged 15 to 20 plus to paint and each student pays her five dollars each month as tuition fee.
Around 11 years ago, Houlia's parents with all their children, residents in northern Afghan province Balkh on the Uzbek border, fled their war-torn motherland to seek a life as refugees in Iran when Houlia was only seven.
Under permission from her father, Houlia initiated learning painting out of natural interest as young as eight in Iran.
"My Iranian painting teacher told me that a painter needs financial support to make himself able to continue painting," Houlia recalled. Two years ahead of her return to Afghanistan, Houlia in Iran had already started selling pictures for 10 dollars each to support her jobless parents.
"For a woman, or a female painter like me, to be able to support herself economically is important," she said, hinting that a change in economic status will bring confidence and improved social status for women.
"Obviously, she is a talented painter," said Ghulam Nabi, 40, a male painter whose works were also displayed at the Kabul exhibition.
"Though professionally, she needs improving in painting out of her own mind, rather than mainly through copying," Ghulam added, referring to the fact that a majority of Houlia's displayed items are repainting of existing works of others.
About Afghan women's social role, Ghulam, also author of a piece of water color featuring a light blue burqa-covered woman holding a caged bird, stressed, "Women need bravery to break the cage, or the fetters imposed on them by others."
Houlia said currently she faced no disagreement or criticism from the neighborhood on her job.
Optimistic about future, Houlia said she wanted to be offered a scholarship for overseas further education.
"I prefer going to Iran to learn again if I have that luck," she said.
Source: Xinhua
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