Gord Afarid
Mixed media on Paper
30 by 22
Lantern
Mixed media on Paper
30 by 22
Hasti
Mixed media on Paper
30 by 22
Garden of Liberty
Mixed media on Paper
30 by 22
The hero
Mixed media on Paper
30 by 22
Barmaye
Mixed media on Paper
30 by 22
Fury
Mixed media on Paper
30 by 22
The bike
Mixed media on Paper
30 by 22
"From Where I Am Standing" seeks to create a visual narrative of my life as an Iranian residing in Canada during the Iranian freedom uprising that started in September 2022. A series of protests was sparked by the tragic death of a young girl, Jina (Mahsa) Amini, in moral police custody, falsely accused of wearing an inappropriate hijab. Following the initial protests, a profound revolution emerged, persisting to this day, characterized by the unwavering resilience of the people and the suppressive violence exerted by the government.
I witnessed their heroic deeds only through a screen, yet they remain etched crystal clear in my memory. "From Where I Am Standing" is an attempt to capture the instances of Iranians' heroic acts for freedom, as I saw.
I through a black fabric over my paintings, a sorrow that follows me everywhere like a shadow. An incomprehensible and murky sorrow, distant like my homeland, yet always present, a sorrow that constantly grew heavier during the years of Iranian relentless strive for liberty.
The interplay between the warp and weft of the fabric, partially uncovered, serves as a metaphor. It conveys that even amidst the unbearable circumstances prevailing in Iran, the flame of hope for freedom persists. This hope is symbolized by the youthful heroes who valiantly challenge one of the most oppressive dictatorship regimes of our time.
"From Where I Am Standing" merges my personal experiences with a collective struggle. These paintings encapsulate the resilience of an entire nation, a nation that I belong to, and inspire from afar. As I inscribe these moments on paper, I invite the viewer to join me in acknowledging the immense courage, sacrifice, and unwavering hope that define the spirit of Iran, a spirit that continues to illuminate even the darkest of times.
Gord Afarid
The young girl stood alone, defiant, in the face of a ruthless army of oppressors. It was as though she emerged from an epic tale of champions and legendary heroine.
Hasti
Among the casualties of the 2022 revolution in Iran, there were a significant number of children and adolescents. Hasti, a seven-year-old girl, was one of the children who lost her life on the fateful Friday known as the "Bloody Friday of Zahedan." I envision Hasti among the traditional patterns of Baloch carpets amidst the mihrab.
Garden of Liberty
Apart from the Garden of Liberty, which garden
Bears the Cypress of the Martyr, drenched in blood beneath its clods?*
In Iranian culture, the cypress tree holds sacred status, believed to have originated from paradise. With its distinctive form and evergreen leaves, the cypress embodies resilience and courage, qualities often linked to heroes.
*(A dear friend entrusted me to transform words into an image tribute to her grandfather, the poet behind these lines.)
Fury
I adorned my chador with images of women, the women who chanted for freedom. In the Iranian rally for freedom, I found myself filled with anger, enraged by the injustice in Iran. I no longer chanted slogans; I did not shout the name of Mahsa anymore. I stood still there, my voice a muffled scream, fragmented words, and everything around me faded. I remained seething in fury.
The bike
On a sunny day, with a gentle breeze blowing, I got on a bicycle after a long time. Women are banned from biking in Iran. With the first pedal strokes, the wind caressed my face and tousled my hair. This was the first taste of freedom, which, until that moment, had been an unfamiliar and abstract concept for me.
