Artists from around the world reflect on Kabul’s historic gardens.

Kabul was once famous as a city of blossoming gardens. Bagh-e Babur was one of the largest and most impressive green spaces in the city, and while it weathered extensive damage during the Afghan civil war, recent restorations conserved the gardens for future generations. This catalog, associated with a 2022 exhibit at the Kunstmuseum Thun, assembles contemporary artworks that consider Afghan gardens as microcosms of the world. Artists from Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States focus on the people, plant life, and animals of Kabul without overlooking the crises that have impacted the city. Essays on the gardens of Kabul and the garden as a symbol of generosity and friendship amplify the book’s forward-looking vision.