Echoes of courage IV

Echoes of Courage IV

Narrative collages on laser-carved wood

28 x 24 × 28cm

Art statement:

In the wake of Mahsa/Jina Amini's tragic death, my heart remains heavy for my country. A 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman was arrested in Tehran for “improperly” wearing her hijab. She was placed in detention where she was beaten into a coma and died three days later on September 16th, 2022. Advocating tirelessly for the ‘Woman Life Freedom’ movement, I have aimed to expose the systemic impunity among Iranian officials responsible for unlawful killings, arbitrary executions, arrests, torture, and mistreatment of those opposing veiling laws.

Echoes of Courage embarks on an extraordinary journey that transcends temporal and spatial confines. A symphony of freedom is expressed in the work through a woven tapestry of symbolic elements, each resonating with the essence of nature and the pathway to enlightenment. The work parallels dreams inspired by Persian miniatures and illuminates the radiant heart of women's liberation. Each layer encapsulates a narrative, or an echo, of valiant souls defying the grip of oppression.

This artwork speaks of our future as much as the past, reminding us that freedom thrives within each layer, narrative, and echo. The work echoes the stories of brave spirits like journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammad, who are facing 12 and 13 years of prison sentences for reporting on Mahsa Amini's tragedy. Further, as Narges Mohammadi receives the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, while journalists endure imprisonment, morality becomes an elusive concept.

Dedicated to the valiant souls of the ‘Woman Life Freedom’ movement, my artwork resonates with their struggles. Visitors can engage with its layers, altering its form as I did, advocating for change from a distance. Like my activism journey shaping the movement from afar, viewers can interact with the artwork, shifting its layers, symbolizing the impact each individual holds in collective efforts toward liberation.

Jin, Jiyan, Azadî
Woman Life Freedom