1004-Afghan Mona Lisa - From Children of Adam Series

Ali Sabouki
Iran
Photography Printed on canvas
Size: 100 x 70 cm

The thing about Mona Lisa is the depth of her eyes, that is why you see her the way you feel, like a mirror, the depth of her look sinks you. When you look at Sabouki's "Afghan Mona Lisa", you again feel like you are sinking, yet so different, this time you become her, you feel the graceful pain of all Afghan women but not in a cliche. You don't have to see her suffering; you see her beautiful eyes smiling. You feel the glory and purity. The way they are not seen often. This piece was first exhibited in Paris, where it was named "Afghan Mona Lisa" by viewers. Then it was awarded by Art Olympia (international open art competition) in Tokyo, Japan in 2019. It was exhibited in Toshima as well and then in Metropolitan Art Museum in Tokyo. "Afghan Mona Lisa" is a piece of a series called "The Children of Adam". This series is the images of "suffering" that affects human beings in every geography. An issue that has always occupied Sabouki's mind, Suffering and overcoming the need to be aware, to know the path and to find the existential connection of human beings to each other.