Where Colours Meet

Through colour and symbol, A.’s story connects history, identity, and belonging across Afghanistan and Greece. Her painting weaves together past and present, showing how roots can grow in more than one place.

STORIES FROM GREECE

6/13/20262 min read

A.’s story is shaped by history, memory, and the ongoing process of building a life between two places. Her painting brings together elements of her past in Afghanistan and her present in Greece, creating a visual dialogue between origins and new beginnings.

At the top of the composition, small Afghan flags appear in repetition, their red, green, and black colours standing out with intensity and pride. These are not only national symbols; they represent a deep connection to her country of origin and its history. At the center, the year 1747 is written — a significant moment marking the establishment of the modern Afghan state under Ahmad Shah Durrani. By including this date, A. places her personal story within a larger historical continuum, connecting her individual journey to the collective memory of her homeland.

Colour plays a central role in her work. It becomes a language through which identity is expressed and redefined. The green associated with Afghanistan and the blue linked to Greece do not remain separate. Instead, they intertwine, creating a shared visual space where both identities can coexist.

This connection takes shape through two olive branches, one green and one blue. The olive tree is a powerful and familiar symbol in both Afghan and Greek cultures. It represents life, continuity, resilience, and peace. By placing these branches at the heart of her painting, A. suggests that despite distance and change, there are elements that remain constant, shared symbols that offer a sense of grounding and recognition.

Her story is not about choosing between one place and another. It is about holding both. Afghanistan remains present through history, memory, and colour, while Greece becomes part of her lived reality, her everyday life, and her future.

In this way, A.’s painting reflects a layered identity. It shows how the past does not disappear with movement, but instead continues to exist alongside new experiences. Through symbols, colours, and references, she creates a space where continuity is possible — where roots are not lost, but extended.

Her story reminds us that belonging can be complex and multi-dimensional. It can exist across borders, across histories, and across time. And sometimes, it can be expressed most clearly not through words, but through the quiet meeting of colours that learn to exist together.

HERS

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

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hers@odyssea.com