Afghan War Rug

Afghan War RugThis stirring War Rug recounts the events that make up Afghanistan's modern history. Guns, rocket launchers and bombs are clearly rendered across the face of the rug, whilst tanks and helicopters fill the deep red map, perhaps symbolising how these machines once engulfed every corner of the country. One of the most interesting features of this piece is the sentence on the top right. It is written in the Dari language, and translates to something along

This stirring War Rug recounts the events that make up Afghanistan's modern history. Guns, rocket launchers and bombs are clearly rendered across the face of the rug, whilst tanks and helicopters fill the deep red map, perhaps symbolising how these machines once engulfed every corner of the country. 

One of the most interesting features of this piece is the sentence on the top right. It is written in the Dari language, and translates to something along the lines of 'Soviet forces in Afghanistan.' This matches up with the 'USSR' inscription to indicate that this war rug is depicting the Soviet invasion of the late 20th century.

However, the year 2002 can also be seen directly below it. This is significant because it tells us that this rug was most likely made a year after the US-led invasion and the subsequent 'War on Terrorism.' It marked the start of yet another conflict between rebel forces and foreign military powers, and ultimately shows how rugs like this remain just as poignant now as when they were first created.