Using tangible evidence of the deadly war that has gripped Afghanistan for decades, a Kandahar artist’s work has gone on display in the province in an effort to raise awareness around the need to end the conflict.

Ahmad Wali Askarzai, whose exhibition, ‘War: a Black Aspect of Humanity’, opened on Sunday said he regularly collects shrapnel from the scene of bomb blasts and suicide attacks.

He said his collection took him eight months to create.

“By showing these sculptures, I want to tell the people about the negative impact of war. I have recreated a sculpture that is in the capital of America – which is very famous. By this I mean that most of our problems are because of the Americans,” said Askarzai. 

Fazl Bari Baryalai, the head of Kandahar information and culture department, said such exhibitions remind people of the horrors of war and can turn them against conflict.

“This is a new move in Kandahar and we are seeing such an exhibition for the first time here. These sculptures are made in the hope that war ends in the country. We will try to promote such moves in the future,” said Baryalai. 

“If more of these types of exhibitions are held and people get to know more about the war’s negative impact (on the country), then they will get a positive message from it. This is the first time that a young man did this and it really deserves appreciation,” Bismellah, a visitor said.