UNESCO recognition brings hope to Herat's artists

UNESCO inscribed Kamal ud-Din Behzad's miniature art on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in December, and artists in Herat say the recognition has offered morale as restrictions have limited exhibitions and public displays of figurative work.

UNESCO added Kamal ud-Din Behzad's style of miniature art to its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in December. Artists in Herat describe the inscription as welcome news during a difficult period. Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 many artists have left and public exhibitions have become rare. Local painters continue to practise Behzad's techniques in homes and small workshops. Key points: - UNESCO inscribed Behzad's miniature art on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in December. - Behzad was a 15th-century painter whose decorated manuscripts are held by institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Library and the Topkapi Palace Museum. - Taliban authorities have enacted bans affecting public music and the representation of living things, and some museum panels in Herat have been altered or faces painted over. - Many artists have left Afghanistan, some galleries in Herat have closed or been padlocked, and exhibitions are uncommon. - Groups of women in Herat continue to paint miniature scenes on glass or paper and sell them through social media or to acquaintances. Summary: The UNESCO listing has given artists in Herat renewed recognition and a morale lift while local cultural life remains constrained by restrictions on figurative art and limited exhibition opportunities. Undetermined at this time.