Robaba Mohammadi designs a creation with her mouth. Photos: Mohammed Al Tahir

A 21-year-old Afghan artist living in Sharjah, Robaba Mohammadi, cannot use her limbs but defies all the odds and draws with passion and creativity using only her mouth.

She was born with a permanent physical disability, but this does not curb her passion, enthusiasm, and determination to succeed.

She is a talented artist who decided to change her life and left her hometown Kabul, Afghanistan, and came to the UAE some months back.

Talking about her relationship with art, she says: "I developed my interest in art since childhood. It is an innate talent and I developed it myself by practising and educating myself. I never attended a school nor did I ever get an opportunity to study because of my disability."

Regarding the decision to reside in the UAE, she says: “I suffered a lot from the instability and conflict that my country suffers from. That is why I decided to move to the UAE because of the security and safety it would provide me. I chose to reside and work in Sharjah specifically; it is characterised by its support for talent and the arts.”

About her experience of drawing on the streets of Sharjah, Mohammadi says: “Passersby show me affection and encourage me. Their stimulating reactions to creativity and success are a source of confidence and great psychological support; it motivates me to be more creative and effortless.”

Mohammadi adds: “This is not the first time I have visited the UAE, as I have visited it before, and participated in several art exhibitions such as the Al Mamzar Park exhibition and the Al Majaz Park exhibition.

Robaba said “I do paintings mostly about Afghan women, women’s power, the beauty of women, the beauty of paintings, love, and the challenges women face.

Robaba Mohammadi wants to open a private school to educate and train people with disabilities.

Mohammadi adds: “Before I came to Sharjah, I owned a special project at a school for teaching drawing and music for people with disabilities, with the participation of a group of teachers specialising in different arts. The school aimed to develop the skills of our students with disabilities, urging them to change their lives for the better, and not to give up, but after one year the dream ended in tragedy.

“The school building was exposed to a bomb explosion, which was completely destroyed, that resulted in severe injuries to my brother and some of the school staff, but they are now recovering.

“But this incident did not make me lose my ambition and determination to continue my life successfully, to practise and develop my talent. I decided to leave and start in a new place that was safe and supports dreams.”

Talking about her ambition, she says: “My ambition is without limits but although I am considered a famous artist in Kabul. I am invited to attend and participate in many artistic and cultural events, I have not achieved many of my dreams yet. On the artistic level and community service, I aspire to own a university and a private school to educate and train people with disabilities, and give them opportunities and self-reliance.

“I was not able to get any kind of medical care or treatment in my country and during the past five years, I am receiving the necessary treatment from the Red Crescent.

“I hope to receive the necessary treatment for my condition, and aspire to be able to walk on my feet instead of a wheelchair, eat my food with my hands and not someone else's, and hold drawing tools with my fingers instead of my mouth.”

Robaba says that her talent is her only source of income, adding: “Drawing is my only means of living, and displaying my talent on the streets of Sharjah brings me several benefits, including providing a good income and completing my dream.”