A Study of Contemporary (Modern) Painting in Herat. Case Study (Faculty of Fine Arts, Herat University)

Abstract

Painting in Herat in the last two decades has achieved new achievements and approaches to the past traditions. These achievements were mostly in terms of form, color and technique, first influenced by modern Western painting, but then painters and students presented works with a combination of Eastern and Western painting based on the culture and traditional patterns of our society.
The purpose of this study was to examine the contemporary (modern) painting within the framework of Herat College of Fine Arts, which can be important for students, artists and art lovers. In this research, two methods of library method and field method have been used. Authentic books and articles have been used in background. In field method, the data collection was based on observations and interviews with several professors of the Faculty of Fine Arts and pioneers of contemporary painting in Herat, which the result is summarized as follows. 
Contemporary painting was introduced to the audience academically for the first time by presenting the works of two painters from the Faculty of Fine Arts of Herat in an exhibition entitled Gardoun. By observing the pictures and interviews that were conducted, in the early days of its formation, contemporary painting was influenced by the Cubism style, but in recent years, contemporary painters have presented works with a new look and a combination of Eastern and Western art based on culture and civilization and indigenous environmental patterns of our country, which some unique methods can be seen in the works of a number of masters.
Contemporary painting in the Faculty of Fine Arts of Herat began academically in 2009 and went through good stages and in the last decade found its place among students, but unfortunately by the change of government, some restrictions arose on the art of painting and establishing exhibitions which caused the lack of motivation of artists and students to art, and this process caused a number of artists and students to go abroad. What will be the future of art and the artist is a question that will be answered in the future.