$1800

Size:65cm x 65cm

Low reflection UV 70 glass

You may recognise Sharbat Gula from the cover of National Geographic. At the time the photo was taken (1984) she was twelve years old, living in a refugee camp in Pakistan. I had seen photos of her for years and like many, were transfixed by her beautiful, haunted eyes. In 2002 photojournalist Steve McCurry traveled to Afghanistan to try and discover her name and story, which was then unknown. He was able to locate and interview Sharbat Gula about her life, both living through the Soviet–Afghan War and under the Taliban. When being interviewed she said, among other things, that she has never felt safe.

I created ‘Hidden’, moved by the necessity so many women like Sharbat Gula have of hiding in order to survive. 

Thank you to Steve McCurry for allowing me to use his image as inspiration.