KABUL, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Afghan female painter Zarmina Khatirzai said holding a tableau exhibition in Afghanistan's capital of Kabul was part of her efforts to bring smiles to the face of her fellow Afghans.

"The name of the exhibition is titled 'Labkhand,' which means smile, and we bring smiles to the face of the people," Khatirzai told Xinhua.

"We want to display the smile of Afghans and the beautiful face of Afghanistan to the world via the art exhibition," the young woman said, adding that the exhibition also aimed to celebrate their new year.

Afghanistan's New Year -- the year of 1403 on the Persian calendar -- fell on March 20 with celebrations by people across the Central Asian country.

Attired in traditional Afghan dress, Khatirzai said she loves painting, and that like her, she believes about 90 percent of Kabul residents are fans of painting.

"If we look at Kabul residents, 90 percent of them are fans of painting, particularly the women and girls, who love painting very much," she opined.

A former college student and currently a painter by profession, Khatirzai said that she now provides training to about 40 girls.

The war-ravaged and economically impoverished Afghanistan, according to the annual UN-sponsored World Happiness Report released recently, is the unhappiest country in the world.

The nation is still striving to overcome poverty and unemployment after the collapse of the U.S.-backed administration in August 2021. As art-related activities are more scarcely seen in the country than before, locals said the exhibition matters much to them, especially the younger generation.

"Art as part of the culture of a country is very important and whenever we introduce a country we often speak of its art and culture," the art lover said.

Expressing a similar feeling, another female painter, Alina Mirzad, believes that the promotion of fine arts and painting by Afghan girls could bolster women's role in the society.

"Girls would progress. Both girls and boys, and all artists in general, would progress by promotion of arts and their role would be enhanced," said the 18-year-old, whose four tableaus, all themed on nature, are on display at the exhibition.

"I want to continue in the art field, paint beautiful pictures and get scholarships in the field to become a popular painter," she said. Enditem

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