Click to play videoJaisalmer: For a country ravaged in war for 30 years, the mind of an artist can easily die an early death. But Dr Asefi and Abdul Shokoor Khasrawe kept their art alive.
During the Taliban rule, Dr Asefi secretly protected old figurative oil paintings of the Kabul Museum by painting elements of nature over them in water colours.
After the Taliban fell, the water colours were washed and the old oil works were well maintained underneath. President Karzai had honoured him with a special medal for his service to art.
Says Dr Asefi, "The art situation has improved a lot in the country. Our government wants to promote art and artists."
While Asefi stayed back, Khasrawe fled to Pakistan and spent all the years as a refugee artist, holding shows across the country.
For him, interaction and exchange of ideas at this SAARC artists camp organised by the Seher Group and the ICCR in Jaisalmer, is indeed unique.
Says Khasrawe, "There is absolutely no peace in some provinces in Afghanistan, they are still fighting for survival."
It's not just art, but also the exposure to rich Indian culture, which has enthralled these artists.
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