Chopan (The Shepherd)
An animal herder guides his flock across the mountains of Bamiyan, descending the hillside in near unison with the sheep as dust rises beneath their feet. More than seventy percent of Afghanistan's population lives in rural areas, where caring for livestock remains central to daily life and local economies. Divided naturally between the earth-toned mountainside and the green pasture below, the composition transforms an ordinary passage through the landscape into a study of rhythm, movement, and the enduring relationship between people, animals, and the land.
Chopan is a Dari word meaning shepherd, honoring a way of life that has shaped Afghanistan's rural landscapes for generations.
Growing up as an Afghan-American, Malikyar knew two different versions of his motherland: the Afghanistan portrayed in the headlines, and the Afghanistan he knew through his family. Before ever experiencing the country himself, he came to know a place filled with beauty, culture, and humanity through stories, photographs, music, food, and tradition.
Guided by his Afghan heritage and relationships built on trust, Malikyar created this body of work over repeated journeys across Afghanistan, documenting daily life through moments of family, tradition, spirituality, work, and play. Many of the photographs were made during a brief period of access, preserving communities, traditions, and ways of life at a pivotal moment in the country's history. Together, they offer a portrait of Afghanistan shaped not by conflict alone, but by the dignity, beauty, and humanity that have always been part of its story.
For Malikyar, the series is also the fulfillment of a promise he made to himself as a child: that one day he would return and share the Afghanistan he knew existed with the world
Artwork Sizes
Prints are available unframed, or professionally framed.
+ 18×24 in (45×61 cm) print, total framed size: 24x30” (61x76cm)
+ 30×40 in (76×101.6 cm) print, total framed size: 38x48” (96x122cm)
+ 40×54 in (102×137 cm) print, total framed size: 48x62” (122x157cm)
ARTWORK SPECIFICATIONS
+ Fine Art Paper: Archival pigment print on Canson Baryta Photographique 310gsm.
+ Presentation: Framed artworks are mounted with a white 8-ply archival mat for a refined museum-quality presentation. Each piece arrives ready to hang with all necessary hardware.
+ Frame: Solid wood gallery frame available in white, black, or natural wood.
+ Glazing: UV-protective, non-glare acrylic for enhanced protection while minimizing reflections.
+ Certificate of Authenticity: Each artwork includes a signed Certificate of Authenticity detailing the title, edition, size, and production information.
SHIPPING
We ship to the following regions:
- United States
- Canada
- European Union
- United Kingdom
- Australia
DELIVERY
Each piece is made to order by our global network of master printers, and ships worldwide within 10-20 days from the purchase date. Our shipping is trackable & insured. Once shipped, you'll receive a tracking number to your email so you can track your artwork as it makes its way to you. Courier timelines are subject to change.