8/17/2004: Traditional Afghan rugs now display war

At first glance they look like the rugs woven for hundreds of years by the tribal peoples of Afghanistan. But instead of traditional abstract motifs such as water jugs, chickens, blossoms and horses, these rugs depict tanks, paisley-shaped helicopters, jets, hand grenades and Kalashnikov rifles.

Swordsmen on horseback had been the most martial images found on tribal rugs, up until the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. But the invasion gave Afghans an abrupt introduction to modern warfare. As Afghan men rose up to fight, women (for nearly all rugs are woven by women) began weaving these new sights into their rugs.

And the rug above is really special: because the woman who wove it inserted her own image into it, secretly. The three bombers across the top there, in red, green, red, are not bombers at all. They are women in burqas. From warrug.com:

Sunday, I sent them an email telling them that on rug 309, I think they misidentified a H-46 Sea Knight as a CH-47 Chinook. Just trying to help.

On ya Bruce , you're always there to lend a helping hand.

What a beautiful rug--it's really a piece of artwork.

Nice, but I get all my war rugs at warcarpets.com. It's sort of like the whole pets.com vs petco.com thang, only with disturbing carpets instead of chewy toys and leashes.

BTW, those Twin Towers rugs with the bodies falling and the mis-spelled English are just plain creepy.

God I just had a look at all the other rugs made, those people are friggin sick to make such things.

I used to work for a import textile company and I saw a series of these in the late 80s. Beautifully made and really, really haunting. They were mixed into a shipment of traditional patterns.

Its kind of, but not exactly, like the pieced and embroidered Hmong story cloths. image of story cloth These narrative pieces were started in Thai refugee camps to try and record.

UT--Nobody cares about the disenfranchised women of the Middle East! For shame! Actually, no one cares about women at all--if they did there would be more love, less war. In the immortal words of our Haiku master--NBN--LOOK IT UP!

With the advent of the linear alphabet, the demise of the goddess was secured.

Let me go on record that I support the liberation of women from oppressive clothing.

Even so little as a thong cannot be comfortable to the wearer.

Some feminist wacko wrote a book about the alphabet thing a couple years ago.

Those rugs have been around since the Russians tried to invade Afghanistan.

I really like the one with the crossed AKs. Very cool. Would look lovely in my entryway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leah God I just had a look at all the other rugs made, those people are friggin sick to make such things.

I want one!

Technically, I don't think they qualify as "living" at that point, even though they were until shortly after they are depicted.

Besides, they are infidels.

I thought I saw some other rugs with figures on them, though ...

Yeah, I don't think it's so much a question of breaking the law as it is subverting it. Artists and artisans have done it all over the world for centuries. There's a great Brazilian song by Jorge Ben using the metaphor of a football (soccer) player to suggest the struggle against Brazil's then-dictatorship that comes to mind.

Alan Paton, from Cry the Beloved Country:
"In the deserted harbour there is yet water that laps against the quays. In the dark and silent forest there is a leaf that falls. Behind the polished paneling the white ant eats away the wood. Nothing is ever quiet, except for fools."

Also, burqas aren't alive. They could be empty burqas on the rug.

There are rugs with (male) human figures on them on the "collectible" page.

Except that the one I want costs $750... It's the one with the butterflies.

Except hell. Are you sure one is enough?

Written like a true collector of Doodads!

I saw these "in person" today.

The guy from warrug.com is at the Gun Show at Valley Forge Convention Center. If you want one without having to pay shipping, he'll be there tomorrow also (9/19/04). I won't be going back tomorrow because i have a psychic faire to attend in Allentown.

They are actually extremely high quality, well made rugs.

There were at least three that I really wanted. The smallest ones were going for about $150 ... including the 9/11 rugs. There were also quite a few pro-American "War on Terror" rugs that were thanking the US for getting rid of the Taliban.

I got an email this past week, from Kevin Sudeith, President of Warrug, Inc. He seems like a very nice guy.

He might be the guy at the show ... lives up in Long Island City?

yep, thats me.

My wife said, "I found something that will cheer you up." and showed me this post. You folks' discussion hits all the important points about war rugs. Its gratifying to see that other people's dialog shares my interest in the rugs.

Welcome Kevin... what a great project! I hope the link here has thrown some business your way / their way.

Undertoad,
Thanks, the link was good, and the coversation better. The bonus is, I learned about a nice place to hang around.
Kevin

More importantly, will you (Skateboard) be back at Valley Forge Gun Collectors Show weekend after next? (12/18-19)?

Here it is:
www.artisthero.com/hales.htm
It shows the approach to figuration and how it has changed.
Thanks,
Kevin

Outstanding. Good work by you.

skateboard, where does your interest in the rugs stem from?

Every picture (rug) tells a story. It makes me wonder if the pre-soviet era rugs told of births, deaths, weddings, droughts, storms, anything that had a significant impact on their lives? Kind of like crib notes to their oral history.

Thank you all for your support. I am open to any/all suggestions as well.

Wolf, I enjoyed the Valley Forge Show very much in September. I camped at French Creek and it rained like crazy. I sold at Allentown the week before, and the assualt weapons ban expired between the two shows. What a difference a week makes. But I found that guns are like tools, and car mechanics are not so interested in drawings of Craftsmen wrenches. So, I regret, I will not be back next week.

Jaguar, I first saw a war rug a dinner party and thought it was cool. I like art , and contemporary art, throughout time, combines something of the moment with something traditional. Like <i>Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?</i> or <i>Cold Mountain</i> being the <i>The Odyssey</i> retold, or Rennaissance musical motifs being incorperated by the Beatles, or Larry Rivers painting the "Dutch Masters". Not to sound to highfalutin, but that combination of the old and new turns my crank.

Bruce, excellent thought. Do you mind if I use "kind of like crib notes to their oral history"? Some rugs tell very old stories such as those of Omar Khayyam, a poet from the 12th century, who liked wine, women and song, and the rugs depict this. <br><br><img src="http://www.artisthero.com/images/pictorial.jpg"><br><br> Below, is the oldest rug. It was found frozen in a tomb, and is supposedly between 2500 and 4500 years old. It features a sort of hunting scene featuring deer and a man on horseback. <br><br>
<img src="http://www.compmore.net/~tntr/pazyryk.jpg">
<br><br>Thanks, again,
Kevin