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Zahira

Hi! I'm Zahira, the creative mind behind Rasm Print Creations. I'm a mother of two, an artist, a business owner and a visionary. The word “rasm” in Dari (one of the official languages of Afghanistan) translates to “draw” because I hand draw everything and Afghanistan is my motherland. The idea behind Rasm Print Creations was born out of a desire to create sketches while taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane. With every sketch I found myself being swept away to the countries of my childhood in the Middle East and Central Asia. In these sketches were snippets of what I had at one point called home and at times, still find myself calling home, as well as the beauty of the diverse cultures I grew up with.  Each image I drew was completely different from the images the media showed about those regions of the world. 

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Art has been a long-time passion for as long as I can remember. However, it wasn't  until January 2021 that I began my career in art. I hold a BA Honours in Political Science, BA Honours in Women's and Gender Studies, and a Master of Arts. My areas of research centered around de-colonial and intersectional feminism, Orientalism and the ways in which stereotypes about the Middle East and Central Asia are deeply problematic.

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My passion for these topics have translated into common themes in my illustrations. As a woman of colour whose culture, race and faith has often been misrepresented in mainstream images, I understand first-hand the significance of accurate cultural and ethnic visual representation. I believe that diversity in illustrations can be a powerful tool to deconstruct racial stereotypes. By combining my educational background and passion for art, I am able to offer a means to make an unforgettable and powerful visual statement. 

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At the core of Rasm Print Creations is the aim of using art as a tool to celebrate diversity while educating viewers about cultures that are portrayed in a singular and often negative light in mainstream media. Art can be revolutionary in changing the way we talk and think about diversity. I'm here to show you how.