Diary of a Dreamer: Afghan Artist Shares Messages of Hope at Dean

Fatima Wojohat was 19 when the Taliban retook Afghanistan. A street artist working with the ArtLords activist organization, Fatima used her art to inspire Afghan girls and women and share messages of hope, painting art and murals on blast walls across the city. But after Kabul fell, she turned to the only outlet she had – her phone.

Refusing to be silenced, Fatima taught herself how to create digital art in order to stand up against gender-based oppression.

“I started doing my digital art to share my voice, my dream and stories from Afghanistan through art,” Fatima explained.

Now, Fatima is sharing her voice and her dreams here at Dean College, as a student. She came to Dean in the Fall 2023 semester with the help of ArtLords and Jane Unrue, the director of the Scholars at Risk program at Harvard University, which works to protect threatened scholars, artists and writers around the world.

Since coming to Dean, Fatima has been working with Amy Adams, an adjunct professor in Dean’s School of the Arts, to explore new mediums and methods of art therapy.

“Since I came Dean, I’ve learned a lot about new cultures, new people, and even new ways of education,” Fatima said. “My exhibit was about my journey in the U.S. and at Dean, and I want to show for people healing through art. Art can heal. Art can be a voice.”

“This semester, we introduced the use of new mediums while working on developing skills and leaving room for community outreach,” Amy said. “We have also spent time on using art as a path for healing that connects us to others.”

Fatima’s semester-long work culminated in an exhibit titled “Diary of a Dreamer” at the Franklin Public Library on December 1, 2023. A collaboration of artists in poetry, music, dance and visual art, the exhibit included spoken word poetry by Dean alum Mica Rich ’21 and performances from both local artists and dancers from the Joan Phelps Palladino School of Dance. The artistic experience culminated in an exhibit of Fatima’s work from the semester, celebrating resilience, power and strength.

Fatima also had the opportunity to work with ArtLords co-founder Omaid Sharifi and a team of artists to paint “Voices of Peace” in former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s office at the Vital Voices Partnership’s Global Headquarters for Women’s Leadership.

As Fatima continues her journey at Dean, her dream that every voice will be heard, regardless of gender, continues to grow.

“Working with Fatima has been a gift and opportunity to experience an exchange of culture through the lens of art,” Amy said. “She has been very transparent in sharing so much about her history and life back in Afghanistan. I feel a sense of gratitude in guiding her through this part of her artistic life and journey. I am really looking forward to seeing what the future unfolds as Fatima continues to develop her skills, amplify her message of the oppressed and adapts to her new home.”