Abdul Wassai Hamdard (Afghanistani, B.unknown) Untitled (Three faces)Abdul Wassai Hamdard (Afghanistani, B.unknown)Untitled (Three faces) two signed and dated W. Hamdard '99 lower left, one signed and dated W. Hamdard '99 lower rightoil on paper, framed30 x 23.1cm (11 13/16 x 9 1/8in).ProvenanceAcquired from the artist in Islamabad, Pakistan in the late 1990s.Abdul Wassai Hamdard fled Afghanistan alongside millions of Afghans in 1996 when the Taliban took over. He went to Pakistan, where he lived and worked until late 2001, after which he returned to Kabul, Afghanistan then in his late 30s. During his time in Pakistan, he painted daily from 9pm until dawn, and produced over 10,000 canvases, both oils and watercolours and established himself as one of Afghanistan's most promising and successful artists. It was during this time that the present lot was painted. With its strong Afghan identity and use of a palette knife, which he favoured over the brush, it is unsurprising to learn that upon his return to Kabul, his works were procured by Kabul's galleries and went on to sell well. He taught at Kabul University and also founded the Afghan Contemporary Art Prize alongside Tamim Samee and Jemima Montagu in 2008. His works were exhibited at the Norwegian, American and Indian Embassies.