Ustad Mohammed Tamim Sahibzada

Head of Miniature Painting, Turquoise Mountain, The Built Environment

I came to work at Turquoise Mountain in early 2006. Before I had graduated in Fine Arts from Kabul University, but I was working at the Ministry of Information and Culture. Work in those days about supporting my family and making a basic living – nothing else. I did not enjoy it.

Teaching calligraphy means so much to me. It means I can do something close to my heart and support my family. It means I can do something for my country and Islam too. Calligraphy is very important to Afghans. It is about Islam, our culture and history. It is our finest art and the source of our pride. As a teacher I get to encourage other people to be artists and to find their hearts.