Afghanistan, a nation once renowned for its artists and intellectuals, has again begun to sprout a vibrant arts movement. For years, artistic expression was stifled in the war-torn nation by religious extremists but now has been reborn. Evidence of this comes in an exhibit of photographs taken by young Afghans and now being displayed in Washington, DC's, Goethe-Institut.  VOA's George Dwyer has more.

One of the photographs in the Afghan exhibit on display at the Goethe Institut

"This exhibition has works by six young Afghan photographers. They seek to show life as they know it, presenting their view of everyday life in Afghanistan," says Norma Broadwater.

Norma Broadwater, Cultural Programs Administrator

She is a Cultural Programs administrator with the Goethe-Institute in Washington, D.C., part of a global network of cultural outreach centers funded by the German government.

She tells us, "Afghanistan at one time was a thriving artistic community and it has gone through a period where the arts were repressed and a number of creative people left the country, but I believe that this exhibition shows a lot of beauty in the country. It also shows still an acknowledgment of the beauty of religion."

German photographer Wolfgang Bellwinkel

The noted German photographer Wolfgang Bellwinkel worked with Goethe-Institut in Kabul to train the young Afghans who took these pictures. Now, it is expected that they themselves will help train the next generation of Afghan photographic artists as the country moves to reclaim its interrupted tradition of artistic achievement.