Yar Taraky

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Biography

Yar was born in Afghanistan in 1964. His father was a writer and ethnographer. Yar received his first art lessons with master artist Khair Mohammed. In 1975 he attended courses in visual arts, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of Afghanistan. His first participation in an art competition took place in early 1977, where he received an art award. In 1982 Yar organized his first junior art exhibition. In 1987 Yar received third place in the annual professional visual art competition sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of Afghanistan. From 1984-1990, Yar took part in many art exhibitions in Kabul, Central Asia, India and Germany. At the same time, he continued his study of drawing and sculpture.

He worked for the Artists Association of Afghanistan and started organizing artists exhibitions. In the spring of 1989, Yar hosted an anti-war exhibition and in September he was invited to exhibit his works in India, Poland and the Czech Republic.

In 1991 Yar entered the Behzad Academy of Fine Arts in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and in 1994 he defended his Master Degree in Fine Arts. Yar has worked in a number of art organizations around the world. His last appointment was in the Museum of Asia and Pacific in Warsaw, Poland as a consultant for the Afghan and Asian Art and Heritage.

From 1994 to 1998 Yar traveled to numerous countries promoting his art in various exhibitions. In 1998 Yar immigrated to Canada. In Canada Yar started a project on Afghan music and dance.

The Canadian style of living with its personal freedoms gave him the chance to create hundreds of pencil sketches and oil paintings. From 1998 until the present time, Yar has been working on music, traditions and dances. This subject was part of his father's study of Afghan ethnography. Yar has created more than 300 sketches and paintings on the subject.

In 2004, Yar was asked to participate in the Mexican-Canadian project, "Reweaving a Life", which focuses on the plight of the Indigenous women weavers of Tlamacazapa, Mexico. The project uses art as a vehicle for social expression.

Yar is now teaching the basics of drawing and composition in the Hamilton Professional Art School organized by the Immigrant Culture & Art Association. In order to introduce and promote immigrant art, culture and values to the Canadian public, Yar became one of the founders of the Immigrant Culture & Art Association.

Yar's journey in the area of art and culture continues to inspire him. He feels that this is the best way for him to serve humanity.