Mohammad Zia
Forogh

I am Zia Forogh, a visual artist, gallery owner, art teacher, and activist from Afghanistan, currently residing in Freiburg, Germany. My journey in the arts began with a bachelor's degree in painting from the University of Herat’s Fine Art Department in 2010. In 2014, along with my wife, I founded the Daira-e-Khiyal Gallery, which became a hub for showcasing Afghan art and providing a creative space for young people to learn and practice various forms of art, including music and calligraphy. My commitment to the arts continued with a Master’s degree in Visual and Performing Arts from Kabul University, earned in 2020.

I have dedicated my life to promoting and growing the arts in Afghanistan. From 2012 until the arrival of the Taliban, I taught at the Fine Art Institute. My work in both visual art and music has made me one of the few Afghans established in these fields. As a musician, I specialize in Hazaragi traditional tunes and founded the popular band Panja in 2013, where I play the dombra and serve as the lead singer.

Throughout my career, I have been invited to numerous prestigious arts and musical events organized by local and international organizations, such as the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the Afghanistan Independence Human Rights Commission, the NIMROZ Exhibition, the University of Herat, USAID, Turquoise Mountain, Protecting through Education RET, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan National Assembly’s Upper House, Maihan TV, and the Afghanistan Olympic Committee in 2016.

My visual art is deeply influenced by my immediate surroundings and addresses critical issues such as suicide bombings, violence against women, and war. Due to my public role and my family’s ethnicity (Hazara), we faced significant threats from the Taliban, forcing us to close the gallery, hide musical instruments, and relocate multiple times for safety.

After escaping Afghanistan, I joined the Artists at Risk (AR) program as a resident at the AR-Moosdorf Korrektiv e.V. Residency in Berlin, Germany. This program is co-funded by the Crespo Foundation and co-organized by Perpetuum Mobile (PM) as part of the AR-Network, coordinated by the AR-Secretariat and funded by the Swedish Arts Council’s Programme for Artistic Freedom and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland’s Centre for Peace Mediation.

Objective:

I am passionate about sharing my art and experiences through international platforms and competitions. By participating in Arte Lugano, I aim to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Afghanistan and the resilience of its people through my visual art and music. This opportunity will also allow me to connect with other artists and audiences, fostering cultural exchange and understanding.