Book launch – Two Afternoons in the Kabul Stadium

Two Afternoons in the Kabul Stadium

From the complete coverage of chadaris to mini-skirts, and back again. From ancient carpet designs to woven depictions of tanks and Kalashnikovs. From photographs of unveiled women to an image of horror—the execution of a kneeling woman known as Zaremeena, videoed covertly by one of the few watching women. This remarkable book provides a history of Afghanistan through the visual.

The Kabul Stadium looms large because it was there, one afternoon in August 1959, that women first appeared in western dress at a celebration of Afghanistan’s independence—a turning point, not only for women in Afghanistan’s cities but also for the country itself, symbolising its embrace of the modern. It was also there, one afternoon in November 1999, that the Taliban killed Zarmeena.

Two Afternoons in the Kabul Stadium offers both a new way of seeing Afghanistan and a new way of understanding it.

Tim Bonyhady’s books include the award-winning Good Living Street, The Colonial Earth and The Enchantment of the Long-haired Rat. Together with Nigel Lendon, he has curated two landmark exhibitions of Afghan war rugs, including I weave what I have seen, now on show at the Drill Hall Gallery.

Bookings essential 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

For your safety, the Drill Hall Gallery will be following guidelines, recommendations and enforceable public health directions published by ACT Health and Safework Australia. We will be collecting contact tracing information from all visitors to the gallery.

To ensure a safe and healthy environment while visiting the Drill Hall Gallery at this time we request that you:

● Stay at home if you are unwell.

● Stay at home if you have been in contact with a known or suspected COVID-19 case.

● You must wear a face mask while in the Drill Hall Gallery.

● Practice good hand hygiene and cough etiquette.

● Utilise hand sanitisers provided at the entrance of the gallery.

● Assist our staff in filling out your contact tracing information on entry and exit from the gallery.

● Maintain 1.5 metres distance from other visitors and staff.

● Comply with the number restrictions clearly signposted in each of the gallery spaces.

● Comply with any written or verbal directions from staff.

● Use contactless payment for any purchases made at the Drill Hall Gallery.

● Download the COVIDSafe app if you have not already.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we appreciate your help in keeping our community safe during this time.

For information on ANU’s privacy policy please refer to: https://policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/document/ANUP_010007