By Yagana
“I Would Rather Be a Man” is a powerful and intimate series that explores identity, resistance, and longing. In this striking acrylic painting, an Afghan woman is depicted wearing traditional Afghan men’s clothing; garments rich with cultural history, texture, and symbolism.
Through this bold choice, the artist confronts the constraints placed on women in Afghanistan’s current climate. The clothing becomes a statement: a desire for visibility, freedom, and the right to inhabit the full vibrancy of Afghan heritage. While men’s attire carries centuries of character, craft, and storytelling, women’s bodies are increasingly covered, silenced, and restricted.
Yagana transforms this contrast into a quiet but unwavering act of defiance. Her brushstrokes carry the weight of exhaustion, of growing tired of her assigned position. The piece celebrates resilience, identity, and the courage to imagine something different. The figure on the canvas embodies a silent revolution: a woman reclaiming space through the very clothing that symbolises the freedom she longs for.
Yagana is a female Afghan painter whose work reflects her lived experience, her heritage, and her journey of migration. Born in Afghanistan and shaped by the landscapes and struggles of her homeland, she pours her history into every canvas. Through her art, she gives voice to emotions often left unspoken, seeking not only to capture beauty, but to preserve memory, challenge boundaries, and express a quiet strength that endures.
Details:
Dimensions: 56 × 76 cm (approximate)
Frame: Natural Oak
Medium: Giclée print
Paper: 330gsm cotton rag paper
Edition: Special edition print, complete with a certificate of authenticity
Glazing: Cast acrylic for UV protection and shatter-resistant
Hanging Kit: Bespoke D-rings and picture cord
By Yagana
“I Would Rather Be a Man” is a powerful and intimate series that explores identity, resistance, and longing. In this striking acrylic painting, an Afghan woman is depicted wearing traditional Afghan men’s clothing; garments rich with cultural history, texture, and symbolism.
Through this bold choice, the artist confronts the constraints placed on women in Afghanistan’s current climate. The clothing becomes a statement: a desire for visibility, freedom, and the right to inhabit the full vibrancy of Afghan heritage. While men’s attire carries centuries of character, craft, and storytelling, women’s bodies are increasingly covered, silenced, and restricted.
Yagana transforms this contrast into a quiet but unwavering act of defiance. Her brushstrokes carry the weight of exhaustion, of growing tired of her assigned position. The piece celebrates resilience, identity, and the courage to imagine something different. The figure on the canvas embodies a silent revolution: a woman reclaiming space through the very clothing that symbolises the freedom she longs for.
Yagana is a female Afghan painter whose work reflects her lived experience, her heritage, and her journey of migration. Born in Afghanistan and shaped by the landscapes and struggles of her homeland, she pours her history into every canvas. Through her art, she gives voice to emotions often left unspoken, seeking not only to capture beauty, but to preserve memory, challenge boundaries, and express a quiet strength that endures.
Details:
Dimensions: 56 × 76 cm (approximate)
Frame: Natural Oak
Medium: Giclée print
Paper: 330gsm cotton rag paper
Edition: Special edition print, complete with a certificate of authenticity
Glazing: Cast acrylic for UV protection and shatter-resistant
Hanging Kit: Bespoke D-rings and picture cord
