Akbar’s New Inspiration

An Afghan artist’s journey from exile to integration

Afghan artist Akbar Kurasani, a former refugee now naturalized in Ukraine, has donated to UNHCR a work drawn on his own experience, in appreciation of the refugee agency's assistance over the years.

Born in the mountains of Uruzgan province in central Afghanistan, Akbar discovered art when he was drafted into the army in Kabul. He attended art classes at the Soviet Union Informational and Cultural Centre, where a Moscow artist taught him to paint.

In 1986, Akbar was sent to study art in Ukraine. But before he could finish his education, the Taliban took over Afghanistan, effectively preventing him from going home. UNHCR intervened to prevent him from getting evicted from his dormitory at the art academy, provided him with legal advice and helped promote his works through awareness-raising exhibitions. When the Migration Service of Ukraine started the refugee status determination process in 1996, Akbar was recognized as a refugee. By now a professional artist, he continued living in his nine square meter dormitory room, sleeping beside 300 paintings -- and developing allergies to the paint fumes. Only in 2002 was he able to afford a small, separate apartment.

As a refugee "you feel like a yo-yo" Akbar added, "I am very grateful to UNHCR for its protection.

“Nobody likes to be a refugee, you feel like a yoyo – everybody can play with your life and you are dependent on somebody else's decision. When I became a Ukraine national, I felt much more confident and independent. I now hold my destiny in my own hands." For the 43-year-old artist, it has been a case of ‘no paint, no gain’: "Art saved me from insanity, which has overtaken many of my compatriots during the endless and absurd civil war," he said, referring to decades of unrest in Afghanistan. "The place I was from is beautiful, but probably there is nothing left there. Everything is ruined after so many years of murderous war."

The job of UNHCR is to give refugees the opportunity to do so, and years of lobbying and negotiations with the Ukrainian Parliament and Presidential Administration have brought practical results – refugees can now get citizenship in Ukraine and integrate in the country."

The artist became a Ukrainian citizen in July 2003 under a revised citizenship law that allows refugees to be naturalized after three years of residence in the country. As of 1 March 2004, more than 230 refugees – mostly Afghans – have benefited from this scheme since it was introduced in 2001. Over the years, Akbar has integrated into Ukrainian society and become part of its art scene, holding numerous personal exhibitions in the last five years. He also has paintings in private collections in Europe, the United States and Asia.

But his heart remains in Afghanistan. Akbar has been trying to trace his internally displaced mother and family, and hopes to go back to his homeland soon. In fact, he dreams of designing housing projects for returnees so that one day, exiles like himself will have a home to go back to.