‘The Aesthetics of Chaos’: An Exhibition of Afghani War Rugs

The School of Religion, Theology and Peace Studies at Trinity College Dublin is pleased to present ‘The Aesthetics of Chaos’: An Exhibition of Afghani War Rugs, in collaboration with Iranian rug expert and collector Saman Khodayarifard. We can organise small group tours by the curator on request. The exhibition features 22 pieces of rare war rugs from Afghanistan – all of which will be available for the public to view in Dublin for the first time. This exhibition will examine how these works of art create a symbolic language to represent conflict, suffering, and beauty. Images of war are often synonymous with destruction and despair. However, a unique form of art, the war rug, challenges this perception by combining modern imageries of war with the traditional motifs of rugs. The rugs incorporate tanks, helicopters, and weapons into the geometric patterns and floral designs of Afghan carpets. This juxtaposition is jarring and surreal, reflecting the disruption of war intruding into everyday life. The rugs can be seen as a grassroots form of protest art, using symbolic imagery to depict war from the perspective of civilians. They also communicate the trauma, fear, anxiety, and surreal experience of living with violence that the weavers themselves faced, offering emotional and psychological perspective on the impact of war. The role of women in the production of war rugs is particularly noteworthy. Afghan women have been largely responsible for creating these rugs, transforming a domestic and industrial art form into a powerful mode of expression and manifesting how there is no gender gap in the battle scene. The tactile experience of rugs adds layers of meaning to these objects, setting them apart from other types of visual art. These rugs serve not only as an expression against violence but also as a testament to the resilience of the people who create them in the face of devastating conflict.