War on Weaving

War rugs have a long history dating from the Anglo-Afghan war of 1919 but primarily began appearing in the decade long Soviet occupation of Afghanistan starting in 1979. They were produced due to 50 years of conflict and military intervention in Afghanistan. These rugs, woven with centuries old techniques, feature modern symbols of war including; AK47 assault rifles & artillery tanks. War rugs are created from people who seldom have a voice. These rugs are a modern adaptation of a traditional art form created by women working from their rural homes or small urban workshops “tribal rugs”. The weavers are often illiterate, with words sometimes misspelled in their work. Their skills are passed down from generations of mothers to daughters. In the past Afghan war rugs were marketed to sell to visiting troops and foreign aid. Now with the Taliban takeover, it will be interesting to see the evolution of this genre.