Stories From a Kite Runner: The Human Desire for Freedom
This immersive exhibition celebrates the beauty, resilience, and rich cultural heritage of Afghanistan through a collection of paintings and handmade kites by Afghan artist Qahar Behzad. Surrounding visitors overhead, a sky of colorful kites transforms the gallery into a space of wonder, inviting audiences to experience the joy, creativity, and symbolism of flight.
Handcrafted from delicate tissue paper and repurposed materials, the soaring kites represent Qahar’s experiences as a kite-runner, and honor a cherished Afghan tradition that has long represented artistry, playfulness, and community. For generations, kite-making and kite-flying have offered opportunities for creative expression, friendly competition, and shared celebration.
In recent years, this pastime has become a symbol of resilience. Under Taliban rule, recreational activities including kite-flying have been banned, but people have continued to fly kites as an act of hope and resistance - sometimes launching them at night with candles attached before cutting them free, allowing them to fly beyond the reach of those seeking to silence them.
Together, Behzad's paintings and suspended kites invite visitors to discover the richness of Afghan culture while reflecting on the enduring human desire for freedom. Throughout the installation, kite patterns incorporate cultural motifs from around the world, encouraging viewers to explore the universal connections that unite us across borders, traditions, and generations.