Kabul Dreams.
Shot on Assignment for The Guardian
Common, contemporary perceptions of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, are based on a three decades of war coverage. From the Soviet and Mujahideen battles, to Taliban rule, US invasion and subsequent security struggles the stories and images most internationally pervasive are those coloured in conflict, bloodshed and tribulation.
Today, the Kabul that exists is one of many faces. One where bombed out buildings stand aside fresh internet cafes. Where more children and girls are attending school than ever before. Where shops and streets are populated by musicians, artists, athletes, and activists who are trying to live connected 21st-century lives in spite of massive infrastructure problems and the ever-present threat of militant attacks.
Against the backdrop of Afghanistan's first and messy democratic transfer of power as well as the Taliban's recent tide of violence, this series explores contemporary trends in youth culture, arts and daily life. It is an ongoing, unfinished project.
Common, contemporary perceptions of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, are based on a three decades of war coverage. From the Soviet and Mujahideen battles, to Taliban rule, US invasion and subsequent security struggles the stories and images most internationally pervasive are those coloured in conflict, bloodshed and tribulation.
Today, the Kabul that exists is one of many faces. One where bombed out buildings stand aside fresh internet cafes. Where more children and girls are attending school than ever before. Where shops and streets are populated by musicians, artists, athletes, and activists who are trying to live connected 21st-century lives in spite of massive infrastructure problems and the ever-present threat of militant attacks.
Against the backdrop of Afghanistan's first and messy democratic transfer of power as well as the Taliban's recent tide of violence, this series explores contemporary trends in youth culture, arts and daily life. It is an ongoing, unfinished project.