Blood count 9

The "Blood Count" series highlights the stories of the world’s most vulnerable people: children, refugees, and victims of human rights violations. Each piece uses powerful imagery and symbolism to emphasize their innocence and the unimaginable suffering they endure. Even after overcoming childhood or refugee status, they continue to grapple with these experiences.

Drawing on themes from my previous series, "Rebirth of the Reds," "Blood Count" delves into the horrific realities hidden within crimes, bloodshed, and statistics, where each number represents a person facing destruction because of their color, language, race, religion, gender, or any specific identity. The series aims to portray the stories of innocent lives lost worldwide, who find themselves in situations beyond their control. It serves as a call to recognize their humanity, stories, and sufferings, challenging viewers to confront these injustices and foster deeper empathy and a stronger commitment to change.

The blood count in my work is deeply connected to "Rebirth of the Reds." This connection is rooted in socio-political concepts, techniques, and the pervasive redness reflecting the harsh reality of my homeland, Afghanistan. In "Rebirth of the Reds," I explored my identity as a Hazara, a minority community in Afghanistan, symbolizing the bloodshed, violence, cultural heritage, and resilience of my people. As my artistic vision evolved, I realized that violence and bloodshed affect countless communities globally, broadening my work from a local focus to a universal one.

Now, the pervasive redness in my art symbolizes the universal human condition—our collective suffering, endurance, and hope. It reminds us that violence is a daily reality for many worldwide, whether in the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, or Europe. This shift from a personal to a global narrative highlights the interconnectedness of human experiences, calling for empathy and urging viewers to recognize our shared plight. The reds symbolize both blood and resilience, testifying to the continuous cycle of violence and the enduring hope for peace and justice.

My work bridges the personal and the universal, using vivid redness to tell a story rooted in my identity and reflective of the human experience. Through this exploration, I aim to spark conversations, evoke emotions, and inspire actions toward a more compassionate and just world.