|
|
|
|
|
| Title | Najibullah |
| Subject | War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; Afghanistan--Politics and government, 1989-2001 ; Afghanistan--History--Soviet occupation, 1979-1989 ; Najibullah, Mohammad, 1947-1996 |
| Description | This rug features a figured centrefield with a border. The centre is dominated by President Mohammad Najibullah Ahmadzai, with his arms raised and his head held by a large hand extending down from the north and attached to a Soviet-style hammer and sickle. He is positioned on top of a cream map of Afghanistan, the area above coloured red, below coloured blue. There is a green band on the left with "Airan" inscribed on it and an olive green ground to the east of NE Afghanistan with the word "Chen" on it. The blue ground has the word "Paksthn" as well as two loaded camels with riders, being led towards the left by a man. Above them are a horse and rider, an animal and a woman with raised hands and something green on top of her head. The red ground features a helicopter, a tank with two riders, and a Soviet crest with "USSR" and a hammer and sickle. Surrounding Najibullah are three soldiers, facing or aiming weapons at him, a grenade and a tank? The border has a red ground and a row of bullets or grenades in different colours. The selvedges are natural brown wool and the ends are finished with a band of red and brown plain weave and white cotton fringes. |
| Narrative | Mohammad Najibullah Ahmadzai was the last president of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, left in power by the Soviets after their withdrawal in 1989. He was detested by the Taliban for being anti-Islamic and a Communist. In 1996, after the Taliban seized Kabul, he was tortured and hung. His image here with the Soviet hand holding him place is a graphic reminder of the lingering effects of the Cold War. |
| Region | Afghanistan |
| Time Period depicted/represented | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 |
| Type of textile | rugs ; carpets |
| Dimensions [cm] | 110 x 67 |
| Materials | wool weft and pile, cotton warp |
| Technique | knotted pile |
| Language of Inscriptions | eng |
| Period Made | Late 20th century |
| Publisher | University of Calgary |
| Collection | Nickle Arts Museum Textile Collection |
| Sub-collection | Fyke Rug Collection |
| Themes | Fyke Rug Collection. Afghan Nationalism, Souvenirs |
| Rights | This collection is owned by the University of Calgary, Nickle Arts Museum and was donated by Robert Fyke. Permission to use any image or material from this site should be requested from The Nickle Arts Museum.
http://digitization.ucalgary.ca/index.php/Conditions_of_Use |
| Accession Number | 2009.030.000 |
| Type | image |
|
|
|
|
|
