Berlin, from 26th February 2015 the carpet gallery Wild in Berlin-Mitte shows selected war rugs from the Soviet occupation until recent time of the ISAF. The Afghan war rugs shock in terms of superposition of the beauty traditional crafts and war related imagery.

Those rugs appeared for the first time at the beginning of soviet surpression in the year 1980, as a backdrop of the Afghan resistance against the invading Soviet troops. They impressively document the penetration of martial hell to paradise. In their representations you find tanks, attack helicopters, fighter-bomber, Kalashnikovs, hand grenades and mines in the place of traditional decorative elements that would become symbols for the everyday horrors of this war. 35 years of war have shaped the Afghan civilization and destroyed large parts of the country and its rich culture. 

Those rugs not only break a taboo by transformation they also respond to a life-threatening typical day at the present time with a production process from pre-industrial times and thus integrate their presence in a new cultural heritage. 
The apparent artistic, historical and social value makes the carpets not only an exceptional collector's items, but also a subject of investigations and exhibitions in galleries and museums around the world.

Teppich Gallerie Wild:
The exhibition opens on 26 February at 8pm and runs until  March 20, Tuesday to Friday 12 - 6pm  and Saturdays 12 - 5pm.

Admission free.

Gipsstraße 12 / Sophie-Gips-Höfe, 10119 Berlin