Safar-e Zimistan (Winter Journey)
Three horsemen pause above the frozen landscape of Band-e Amir as winter winds sweep across the lake below. Wrapped in traditional patus, heavy woven cloaks long used for warmth throughout Afghanistan's highlands, they overlook a landscape transformed by snow and silence. The photograph was only possible after frozen roads forced Malikyar and his team to spend the night in the nearby home of a local horseman, whose hospitality led to this journey through the mountains the following morning. Created several years after Safar, the image offers a winter counterpart to the earlier photograph, revealing the same landscape through an entirely different season.
Safar-e Zimistan translates to Winter Journey. The title reflects both the season and the generosity that made the journey possible.
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.