By Zaheda Ghani
January-March 2000
Lemar-Aftaab
Ustad Abdul Karim Rahimi - painter and sculptor - is ready to dive in and embrace the
multicultural wave of Australian society.
He wants to get in amongst it, decipher it's needs and interpret them on his canvas.
"Afghans in Australia are going to have to realize sooner or later they are part of Australian
multiculturalism."
This ideology has led him to immerse himself in a myriad of artistic circles. As an artist, he says,
he cannot afford to be narrow minded about ethnicity or cultural diversity.
"I am an artist and I have to think openly and seamlessly. Where ever I end up living, I have to be
able to interpret that society's needs and issues into my artwork."
Within a year of being in the country, some of his work is already gaining recognition in Australia
and is to be converted to posters and stickers.
He says this opportunity came to him from his involvement in a competition with the Migrant
Resource Center in Sydney.
"We were required to create something which would bring together ideas of peace, friendship and
multiculturalism in Australia.
"Out of the 15 pieces which I submitted four were accepted. These will be made into slides and
posters for walls and billboards to be displayed around the country."
Rahimi says although he believes in accepting his new home wholeheartedly, he does not expect to
forget the past, which has been difficult for many Afghans to leave behind.
"Afghans have been misplaced and made homeless. In the hope of peace they have found new
homes for themselves.
"It has been a difficult experience for all of us.
"However, even though I talk of accepting Australia as home, I do stress you can't forget the past
or discard your heritage completely.
"Afghanistan is like a mother to me so I can never leave it behind completely. It nurtured me and
gave me shelter."
He says it is a matter of finding a balance between the two cultures while living in the peace
which Australia has offered him.
"It's about balance. War has become a business in Afghanistan. It caused too many people to
lose too much."
At the moment Rahimi is waiting to begin university studies in fine arts and hopes to receive
his doctorate. After that he hopes to become a university lecturer. At the same time he is
undergoing English language training.
"My friends tell me 'you are an old man now what are you doing back in university?'
"I don't think there is anything wrong with learning. I have approached several universities here
for research or teaching positions but they said they couldn't offer me anything because I lack
language and western art experience.
"So what can I do but to learn all over again?"
Rahimi says he had an interest in art since he was a young boy in Herat and since then
learning about and being surrounded by art has brought him contentment.
"I still have what I learnt from my studies in Herat and from being a lecturer in Kabul.
"I will combine this with what I learn about western art and the collision of the two can't be a
bad thing. I have nothing to lose.
"As they say, life is about learning from the cradle to the grave."
Rahimi studied miniature art under Ustad Mohammad Saeed Mashal after finishing year 12.
"Ustad Mashal is known as the father of miniature in Afghanistan. He was a mentor, teacher and
father figure for me and his other apprentices.
"After Kamaluddine Behzad, Mashal was the one who brought miniature back from decline."
Rahimi also wrote two books, one of which was published. He says the regime did not allow the publication
of the other book and also put a stop to the completion of two others he was working on.
"I have the books with me and I hope to continue my research in Australia."
He says the Eastern world is less prone to respect artists.
"On the other hand the West understands the artist as a gifted person. This is true because
artists have the ability to express their pain or joy through their art.
"They can relieve themselves from the burdens which life places on them.
"Many times people will have a heart attach because of a piece of bad news, because they don't
know how to resolve the issue inside themselves.
"An artist on the other hand, has the tool of art to handle it and get it out of their system."
He says in Afghanistan an artist such as a musician with a "beautiful" voice had the power to
overwhelm people and make them feel joy or sadness.
"But if he charged people 5 Afghanis for a ticket, people would be ungrateful and say I
wish it cost 2."
He says that's why when he paints a portrait for anyone, he does not give them the
original painting.
"I give them a photograph of the painting. A large copy of it.
"They don't know I spent long hours on making that piece of artwork and how much of my energy
and creativity went into it.
"They just want to see themselves in a drawing and smile at it."
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