In the name of the Rainbow God.
For Woman, Life, Freedom
زن ,زندگی, آزادی
Jîn, Jiyan, Azadî
ژن، ژیان، ئازادی
My work is not about one specific place or event, although ideas are illustrated mostly through the struggles of my people (Iranians) and how it mirrors the global fight for collective liberation -- It is about the essence of this world and humanity as a whole.
I explore the concept of otherness and and its deployment as a tool of division. It is my belief that until humanity recognizes the strength in unity, we will remain susceptible to manipulation and destruction by malevolent forces.
I explore the concept of otherness and and its deployment as a tool of division. It is my belief that until humanity recognizes the strength in unity, we will remain susceptible to manipulation and destruction by malevolent forces.
Jewels of Our Time
Vintage brass lockets, Recycled bullet casing, Brass, Ribbon, Newsprint, Sterling Silver, Rubies, Lepidocrocite Quartz
2024
An ode to all the children everywhere whose lives were cut short by evil governments.
2024
An ode to all the children everywhere whose lives were cut short by evil governments.
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Children featured:
Maedeh (Mahak) Hashemi, 16, was killed in Shiraz by the blows of batons on November 24th, 2022. The Regime forced her family to lie by announcing that Mahak died in a car accident or they would not return Mahak’s body to them.
On October 24th, 2022, Sadaf Movahedi, 17, was attacked by security forces on the street and was beaten mercilessly with batons. She managed to return home but was severely injured. Because of the fear of being questioned and arrested at the hospital (for being involved in protests), her family decided to care for her at home. Without the proper medical attention to address her head injury, Sadaf passed away later that day.
Armita Geravand, 17, fell into a coma on the Tehran Metro on 1 October, 2023 after an encounter with officers enforcing Iran's dress code. According to the Norway-based human rights group Hengaw, Geravand was confronted by morality police officers for not wearing a headscarf and, after a brief altercation, she was violently assaulted and fell, causing her to hit her head and lose consciousness. She was held in the intensive care unit of an army hospital where she was declared brain dead on October 22nd 2023, and declared dead on October 28th. Iranian authorities have denied any physical confrontation took place and claim she fainted due to low blood pressure.
Sarina Esmailzadeh, 16, was killed during the protests in the neighborhood of Gohardasht in Karaj, Alborz province, on September 23rd, 2022. According to information received from a primary source in Iran, security forces fatally struck her head with batons and subsequently subjected the girl’s family to intense harassment and intimidation to coerce them into silence. The authorities did not allow the family to see her body after her death; they brought the body to the burial site while wrapped in a white shroud and forced the family to immediately bury it.
Amir Mehdi Farokhipour, 17, tragically lost his life just four days before his 18th birthday, amidst the turmoil of Iran’s protests on October 5th, 2022. His life was cut short under circumstances disputed by his family and the Iranian government, with the former asserting that he fell victim to security forces’ violence, contradicting official claims of a traffic accident. According to family accounts, Amir Mehdi was actively engaged in the protests that swept through Tehran, driven by a deep commitment to fighting for a future where the injustices faced by women like Mahsa Amini would not befall others. On the night of his death, his family received a call claiming Amir Mehdi had been involved in an accident. However, upon reaching the hospital, the presence of security personnel and a nurse’s testimony suggested a far grimmer reality: Amir Mehdi had been shot. The physical evidence on his body, including gunshot wounds and signs of beating, starkly contradicted the official narrative of a traffic accident, adding to the family’s grief and outrage. Under duress, Amir Mehdi’s family was compelled to conform to the government’s version of events, a common tactic used by Iranian authorities to suppress dissent and control narratives surrounding the protests’ casualties.
Reza Kazemi, 16, a young teenager, became another victim of the violent crackdowns during the Iranian protests. On November 22nd, 2022, he was shot in the chest by members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in his hometown. After battling his injuries for six days in Kosar Hospital in Sanandaj, Reza passed away. His death is emblematic of the ongoing struggle for human rights in Iran, particularly among the Kurdish population.
Islamic Regime Security officials fatally shot Artin Rahmani, 16, during protests that were taking place in Izeh, Khuzestan province, on November 16th, 2022. On the same evening, security forces unlawfully killed six other people, including two children, Kian Pirfalak and Sepehr Maghsoudi. The authorities immediately blamed “terrorists” for the seven killings. However, other information obtained from publicly available materials has exposed the official narrative as false. Prior to his death and after the protests have erupted, Artin Rahmani had written a diary entry, addressed to his mother, which said: “Forgive me, mother. I want to step onto a path which could mean that you may not see me grow up.”
Security forces fired dozens of metal pellets at Abolfazl Adinehzadeh, aged 16, at close range during a violent crackdown on protests in Mashhad, Khorasan-e Razavi province, on October 8th, 2022. His burial certificate, which has been reviewed by Amnesty International, states that he was “hit by metal pellets (hunting birdshot)” and that his death resulted from “kidney and liver damage” and “trauma caused by bleeding”.
On September 20th, 2022, Nika Shakarami, 16, vanished in Tehran during the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. Her family was informed of her death ten days later. She had died under suspicious circumstances suspected to involve violence by security forces. After her body was identified by her family, they planned to bury her in Khorramabad, but the body was stolen by Iranian authorities and instead buried in Hayat ol Gheyb, reportedly to exercise leverage over her family and to avoid a funeral procession which could cause further protests. The Iranian authorities denied wrongdoing, spread several contradictory stories concerning her fate, and allegedly coerced some of her family members to support these narratives. Shakarami's death and the attempts of government suppression regarding information on her fate was widely publicized in international media and further fanned the ongoing protests. Her official cause of death was later described as blunt force trauma in a Behesh-e Zahra document. An Iranian document leaked to the BBC in 2024 concluded that Shakarami was killed by security forces that had taken her captive, after she fought back while being sexually assaulted by her captors.
Asra Panahi, 15, was brutally beaten by plainclothes government agents when they attacked the Shahed High School for girls in Ardabil on October 13th, 2022. They brutalized the students who had refused to participate in a pro-regime ceremony to sing an anthem in praise of the mullahs’ supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. She later died in a hospital in Ardabil due to internal bleeding.
Setayesh Sharifinia, a 16-year-old from Kordkoy, in Iran’s Golestan province, was tortured to death by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Following the September 2022 killing of Mahsa Jina Amini, Setayesh took to the streets to protest. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps agents captured and arrested Setayesh and tortured her during interrogations. On December 27th, 2022, Setayesh was transferred to Amir Almomenin Hospital in Kordkoy. Photographs of Setayesh’s injuries were documented at the hospital and she was released a few days later. Unfortunately, the injuries that Setayesh had sustained required her to be re-admitted to a hospital where she fell into a coma. It is reported that she woke from the coma after several days, but died in hospital on January 13th, 2023. Sources close to the family say that the doctor who treated Setayesh noted severe torture as the cause of her injuries and death.
Tragedy struck on Wednesday, September 28th, 2022, amidst protests following the murder of Mahsa Amini. Pouya Ahmadpour Pasikhani, 16, despite the impending start of the school year, chose to join fellow citizens in advocating for justice. During the demonstration, security forces violently attacked protesters. Pouya, displaying bravery and compassion, intervened to aid two individuals, but he became a target of the authorities’ brutality. He sustained severe injuries to his neck and shoulder, inflicted by a metal rod. Efforts to transport Pouya to Qaem Hospital in Rasht were in vain as his condition rapidly deteriorated due to profuse bleeding. Despite undergoing a four-hour surgery, Pouya slipped into a coma and, tragically, passed away on Wednesday, September 28th, 2022.
Arshya Soltanieh, a 12 year-old from Zanjan, was shot and killed by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) security forces. Young Arshya died on November 16th, 2022.
Security forces killed Javad Pousheh, an 11-year-old boy from Iran’s long-oppressed Baluchi minority, with live ammunition on September 30th, 2022 during a violent crackdown on a protest in Zahedan, in the Sistan and Baluchistan province, which took place after Friday prayers outside a police station opposite a large prayer site. Shocking videos filmed immediately after Javad Pousheh’s death show his bloodied body being carried amid chaotic scenes of people screaming; multiple men are heard stating: “They have hit a child”. He was shot in the back of his head with live ammunition by security forces and the bullet exited through his cheek.
Basiji agents killed Mohammad Rakhshani, a 12-year-old boy from Iran’s long-oppressed Baluchi minority, on September 30th, 2022 during a violent crackdown on protests taking place in the area of Kawsar in Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchistan province. Mohammad Rakhshani was shot in his head while his brother Mohsen Rakhshani, was shot in the back after he intervened to try to save his brother’s life.
Sepehr Maghsoodi was a 14-year-old teenager living in Izeh. Sepehr was an athlete and worked while studying to make ends meat and to contribute to the family. Sepehr was fatally shot in the head with live ammunition by the Islamic Republic security officers during an attack at a market in Izeh on November 16th, 2022. According to the members of the MaghsoudI family, the IRGC and security forces kidnapped Sepehr’s lifeless body and refused to hand it over to his family.
Mona Naghib was a beautiful 8-year-old Baloch girl from Aspic, a village near the city of Saravan, in the southeastern part of Iran. On October 24th, 2022 Mona was walking to school with her sister when she was fatally shot in the head by Islamic Republic Security forces.
On October 12th, 2022, 7 year-old Helen Ahmadi, from Bukan, was murdered by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) security forces. Helen was chanting protest slogans after school on her way home when the young girl was shot and killed.
Diana Mahmoud was an innocent 8-year-old girl from Piranshahr, Iran. She is one of the youngest children who have been killed by Islamic Regime forces in Piranshahr. The brutal IRGC forces beat her in the street on October 29th, 2022. It is said that she suffered multiple blows to the head which lead to her death.
Plainclothes security officials fatally shot Kian Pirfalak, 9, with live ammunition during protests that were taking place in Izeh, Khuzestan province, on November 16th. Security forces fired toward the car in which he was traveling with his family, fatally wounding him. The authorities blamed the incident on “terrorists”.
On March 2nd, 2023, Amirali Mousa Kazemi, 2, was shot and killed by the murderous forces of the Islamic Republic. Reports indicate that young Amirali and his family were in their car in Isfahan when they were cut off by a “special police unit” vehicle. The family continued to drive around the vehicle when forces opened fire without warning, shooting this toddler in the head.
Hasti Narouie, a 6-year-old girl from Iran’s long-oppressed Baluchi minority, was killed on September 30th, 2022 after being hit in the head with a tear gas canister. The fatal incident took place during a violent crackdown on a protest in Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchistan province, which took place after Friday prayers outside a police station opposite a large prayer site.
Maedeh (Mahak) Hashemi, 16, was killed in Shiraz by the blows of batons on November 24th, 2022. The Regime forced her family to lie by announcing that Mahak died in a car accident or they would not return Mahak’s body to them.
On October 24th, 2022, Sadaf Movahedi, 17, was attacked by security forces on the street and was beaten mercilessly with batons. She managed to return home but was severely injured. Because of the fear of being questioned and arrested at the hospital (for being involved in protests), her family decided to care for her at home. Without the proper medical attention to address her head injury, Sadaf passed away later that day.
Armita Geravand, 17, fell into a coma on the Tehran Metro on 1 October, 2023 after an encounter with officers enforcing Iran's dress code. According to the Norway-based human rights group Hengaw, Geravand was confronted by morality police officers for not wearing a headscarf and, after a brief altercation, she was violently assaulted and fell, causing her to hit her head and lose consciousness. She was held in the intensive care unit of an army hospital where she was declared brain dead on October 22nd 2023, and declared dead on October 28th. Iranian authorities have denied any physical confrontation took place and claim she fainted due to low blood pressure.
Sarina Esmailzadeh, 16, was killed during the protests in the neighborhood of Gohardasht in Karaj, Alborz province, on September 23rd, 2022. According to information received from a primary source in Iran, security forces fatally struck her head with batons and subsequently subjected the girl’s family to intense harassment and intimidation to coerce them into silence. The authorities did not allow the family to see her body after her death; they brought the body to the burial site while wrapped in a white shroud and forced the family to immediately bury it.
Amir Mehdi Farokhipour, 17, tragically lost his life just four days before his 18th birthday, amidst the turmoil of Iran’s protests on October 5th, 2022. His life was cut short under circumstances disputed by his family and the Iranian government, with the former asserting that he fell victim to security forces’ violence, contradicting official claims of a traffic accident. According to family accounts, Amir Mehdi was actively engaged in the protests that swept through Tehran, driven by a deep commitment to fighting for a future where the injustices faced by women like Mahsa Amini would not befall others. On the night of his death, his family received a call claiming Amir Mehdi had been involved in an accident. However, upon reaching the hospital, the presence of security personnel and a nurse’s testimony suggested a far grimmer reality: Amir Mehdi had been shot. The physical evidence on his body, including gunshot wounds and signs of beating, starkly contradicted the official narrative of a traffic accident, adding to the family’s grief and outrage. Under duress, Amir Mehdi’s family was compelled to conform to the government’s version of events, a common tactic used by Iranian authorities to suppress dissent and control narratives surrounding the protests’ casualties.
Reza Kazemi, 16, a young teenager, became another victim of the violent crackdowns during the Iranian protests. On November 22nd, 2022, he was shot in the chest by members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in his hometown. After battling his injuries for six days in Kosar Hospital in Sanandaj, Reza passed away. His death is emblematic of the ongoing struggle for human rights in Iran, particularly among the Kurdish population.
Islamic Regime Security officials fatally shot Artin Rahmani, 16, during protests that were taking place in Izeh, Khuzestan province, on November 16th, 2022. On the same evening, security forces unlawfully killed six other people, including two children, Kian Pirfalak and Sepehr Maghsoudi. The authorities immediately blamed “terrorists” for the seven killings. However, other information obtained from publicly available materials has exposed the official narrative as false. Prior to his death and after the protests have erupted, Artin Rahmani had written a diary entry, addressed to his mother, which said: “Forgive me, mother. I want to step onto a path which could mean that you may not see me grow up.”
Security forces fired dozens of metal pellets at Abolfazl Adinehzadeh, aged 16, at close range during a violent crackdown on protests in Mashhad, Khorasan-e Razavi province, on October 8th, 2022. His burial certificate, which has been reviewed by Amnesty International, states that he was “hit by metal pellets (hunting birdshot)” and that his death resulted from “kidney and liver damage” and “trauma caused by bleeding”.
On September 20th, 2022, Nika Shakarami, 16, vanished in Tehran during the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. Her family was informed of her death ten days later. She had died under suspicious circumstances suspected to involve violence by security forces. After her body was identified by her family, they planned to bury her in Khorramabad, but the body was stolen by Iranian authorities and instead buried in Hayat ol Gheyb, reportedly to exercise leverage over her family and to avoid a funeral procession which could cause further protests. The Iranian authorities denied wrongdoing, spread several contradictory stories concerning her fate, and allegedly coerced some of her family members to support these narratives. Shakarami's death and the attempts of government suppression regarding information on her fate was widely publicized in international media and further fanned the ongoing protests. Her official cause of death was later described as blunt force trauma in a Behesh-e Zahra document. An Iranian document leaked to the BBC in 2024 concluded that Shakarami was killed by security forces that had taken her captive, after she fought back while being sexually assaulted by her captors.
Asra Panahi, 15, was brutally beaten by plainclothes government agents when they attacked the Shahed High School for girls in Ardabil on October 13th, 2022. They brutalized the students who had refused to participate in a pro-regime ceremony to sing an anthem in praise of the mullahs’ supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. She later died in a hospital in Ardabil due to internal bleeding.
Setayesh Sharifinia, a 16-year-old from Kordkoy, in Iran’s Golestan province, was tortured to death by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Following the September 2022 killing of Mahsa Jina Amini, Setayesh took to the streets to protest. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps agents captured and arrested Setayesh and tortured her during interrogations. On December 27th, 2022, Setayesh was transferred to Amir Almomenin Hospital in Kordkoy. Photographs of Setayesh’s injuries were documented at the hospital and she was released a few days later. Unfortunately, the injuries that Setayesh had sustained required her to be re-admitted to a hospital where she fell into a coma. It is reported that she woke from the coma after several days, but died in hospital on January 13th, 2023. Sources close to the family say that the doctor who treated Setayesh noted severe torture as the cause of her injuries and death.
Tragedy struck on Wednesday, September 28th, 2022, amidst protests following the murder of Mahsa Amini. Pouya Ahmadpour Pasikhani, 16, despite the impending start of the school year, chose to join fellow citizens in advocating for justice. During the demonstration, security forces violently attacked protesters. Pouya, displaying bravery and compassion, intervened to aid two individuals, but he became a target of the authorities’ brutality. He sustained severe injuries to his neck and shoulder, inflicted by a metal rod. Efforts to transport Pouya to Qaem Hospital in Rasht were in vain as his condition rapidly deteriorated due to profuse bleeding. Despite undergoing a four-hour surgery, Pouya slipped into a coma and, tragically, passed away on Wednesday, September 28th, 2022.
Arshya Soltanieh, a 12 year-old from Zanjan, was shot and killed by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) security forces. Young Arshya died on November 16th, 2022.
Security forces killed Javad Pousheh, an 11-year-old boy from Iran’s long-oppressed Baluchi minority, with live ammunition on September 30th, 2022 during a violent crackdown on a protest in Zahedan, in the Sistan and Baluchistan province, which took place after Friday prayers outside a police station opposite a large prayer site. Shocking videos filmed immediately after Javad Pousheh’s death show his bloodied body being carried amid chaotic scenes of people screaming; multiple men are heard stating: “They have hit a child”. He was shot in the back of his head with live ammunition by security forces and the bullet exited through his cheek.
Basiji agents killed Mohammad Rakhshani, a 12-year-old boy from Iran’s long-oppressed Baluchi minority, on September 30th, 2022 during a violent crackdown on protests taking place in the area of Kawsar in Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchistan province. Mohammad Rakhshani was shot in his head while his brother Mohsen Rakhshani, was shot in the back after he intervened to try to save his brother’s life.
Sepehr Maghsoodi was a 14-year-old teenager living in Izeh. Sepehr was an athlete and worked while studying to make ends meat and to contribute to the family. Sepehr was fatally shot in the head with live ammunition by the Islamic Republic security officers during an attack at a market in Izeh on November 16th, 2022. According to the members of the MaghsoudI family, the IRGC and security forces kidnapped Sepehr’s lifeless body and refused to hand it over to his family.
Mona Naghib was a beautiful 8-year-old Baloch girl from Aspic, a village near the city of Saravan, in the southeastern part of Iran. On October 24th, 2022 Mona was walking to school with her sister when she was fatally shot in the head by Islamic Republic Security forces.
On October 12th, 2022, 7 year-old Helen Ahmadi, from Bukan, was murdered by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) security forces. Helen was chanting protest slogans after school on her way home when the young girl was shot and killed.
Diana Mahmoud was an innocent 8-year-old girl from Piranshahr, Iran. She is one of the youngest children who have been killed by Islamic Regime forces in Piranshahr. The brutal IRGC forces beat her in the street on October 29th, 2022. It is said that she suffered multiple blows to the head which lead to her death.
Plainclothes security officials fatally shot Kian Pirfalak, 9, with live ammunition during protests that were taking place in Izeh, Khuzestan province, on November 16th. Security forces fired toward the car in which he was traveling with his family, fatally wounding him. The authorities blamed the incident on “terrorists”.
On March 2nd, 2023, Amirali Mousa Kazemi, 2, was shot and killed by the murderous forces of the Islamic Republic. Reports indicate that young Amirali and his family were in their car in Isfahan when they were cut off by a “special police unit” vehicle. The family continued to drive around the vehicle when forces opened fire without warning, shooting this toddler in the head.
Hasti Narouie, a 6-year-old girl from Iran’s long-oppressed Baluchi minority, was killed on September 30th, 2022 after being hit in the head with a tear gas canister. The fatal incident took place during a violent crackdown on a protest in Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchistan province, which took place after Friday prayers outside a police station opposite a large prayer site.
Victor Chain
Vintage Brass Chain, Recycled Bullet Casings, Sterling Silver, CZ; Gold-plated.
2024
Crafted from recycled materials, each link symbolizes the strength of individuals coming together to challenge and dismantle oppressive systems. The bullet ends, adorned with sparkling CZ stones, are transformed from symbols of violence into emblems of victory, signifying the reclaiming of agency and the triumph over systemic oppression.
2024
Crafted from recycled materials, each link symbolizes the strength of individuals coming together to challenge and dismantle oppressive systems. The bullet ends, adorned with sparkling CZ stones, are transformed from symbols of violence into emblems of victory, signifying the reclaiming of agency and the triumph over systemic oppression.
Liberation Constellation
Brass, Recycled Bullet Casings, Sterling Silver, CZ
2024
Our liberation and our oppression are bound in each other. We call for collective liberation because our freedoms are intersectional—no one is truly free until all are free. In a world so dark and violent, this idea may seem like a distant dream, but hold onto the hope that one person’s liberation can spark a chain of events leading to true freedom for all.
2024
Our liberation and our oppression are bound in each other. We call for collective liberation because our freedoms are intersectional—no one is truly free until all are free. In a world so dark and violent, this idea may seem like a distant dream, but hold onto the hope that one person’s liberation can spark a chain of events leading to true freedom for all.
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Peace Brooch |
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Recycled bullets, Brass, Human hair
2024
While oppression unites marginalized communities in a shared call for human rights, empowerment, and unity, its adverse effects are deliberately sown by oppressors. Rather than fostering peace, the oppressors create chaos and division, instigating conflict to perpetuate self-centeredness and fear of the “other” among humanity. In contrast, the oppressed strive for peace, harnessing their joy and unity as powerful tools of resistance. This work takes symbols of oppressive power and reimagines them as a catalyst for unification while underscoring the transformative power inherent in the struggle for collective liberation.
2024
While oppression unites marginalized communities in a shared call for human rights, empowerment, and unity, its adverse effects are deliberately sown by oppressors. Rather than fostering peace, the oppressors create chaos and division, instigating conflict to perpetuate self-centeredness and fear of the “other” among humanity. In contrast, the oppressed strive for peace, harnessing their joy and unity as powerful tools of resistance. This work takes symbols of oppressive power and reimagines them as a catalyst for unification while underscoring the transformative power inherent in the struggle for collective liberation.
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Free At LastBrass, Recycled Bullet Casings
2023 Inspired by the following message on “Queering the map (Palestine)” ‘I’ve always imagined you and me sitting out in the sun, hand [in] hand, free at last. We spoke of all the places we could go if we could.. Yet you are gone now. If I had known that bombs raining down on us would take you from me, I would have gladly told the world how I adored you more than anything. I am sorry I was a coward.’ The intention of this necklace is to serve as a beacon of hope for a world where people coexist not in otherness but in togetherness. It is a projection of the freedom to be one’s authentic self, unburdened by societal expectations or labels. In my envisioned world, the very concept of humanity transcends the notion of crimes against one another. Love flows unconditionally, free from judgment and the oppressive forces that have plagued our history. This wearable safe space is my interpretation of a better world on its way, emerging from the rubble of current atrocities, one in which equality and peace reign supreme, where individuals can proudly identify as whoever they choose to be, and where the collective dream of a free and just society becomes a reality. |
Woman Life Freedom HonorBrass, Recycled Bullet Casings, Human Hair, Pyrite+Resin Inlay
2023 Crafted with intention and purpose, this brooch stands as an emblem, a Medal of Honor, dedicated to the fearless women who courageously navigate the forefront of the ongoing struggle for women's liberation and the transformative (Woman Life Freedom) movement sweeping through Iran today. Its form echoes the timeless design of medals of honor, while its circular nature symbolizes the cyclical rhythm of revolutions: the various stages of simmering discontent, escalating tensions, fervent protests, and eventual rebirth of social, political, or economic paradigms. Each cycle unfolds with mounting difficulty, as the Islamic Regime’s brutality continues to deepen, so does the sorrow Iranians are experiencing. The people of Iran are a fierce and proud people. According to UN watch, over 465 innocent Iranians involved in protests were executed in 2023. The Islamic Regime currently occupying Iran arrests women simply for defying hijab laws and utilizes every fear and terror tactic to maintain their power over the country. I, like many Iranians, am forced to bear witness to the unrelenting escalation of the Islamic Regime's cruelty, a heavy burden we all share. In this dark space, a glimmer of hope persists—a hope that change will finally come. In my own small ways, I endeavor to raise awareness, to extend a hand of solidarity to my sisters and brothers around the world. In my visions of a dismantled Islamic Regime, each Iranian who stood tall for rights, for freedom's cause, will be adorned not with one, but with countless medals of honor. |
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Brass, Recycled Bullet Casings
2023 In this ring, I explore the complex emotions associated with existing within a cultural duality, feeling like “other” no matter where you are. It is difficult to live outside your homeland and culture, especially when there is a strong connection to ancestral roots and a rich cultural history. Amidst the ongoing Woman Life Freedom Revolution in Iran and worldwide, my community is undergoing heightened fears and emotions, causing our emotional resilience to be put to the test. The community’s intensified sentiments inspire hope and perseverance…Even in decay there is growth. This ring was inspired by a poem written by my uncle, Hooshmand Nayersina, about leaving your homeland for a better life, and the pain of what we leave behind. Growing up, I watched my family grieve the loss of their home and their homeland, an experience shared by many. May the vessels of this ring catch the community’s tears of grief and longing, and sew something worthy of all the sacrifices made. 
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Poetry by my uncle, Dr. Hooshmand Nayersina
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Performance Piece for "Tears of the Diaspora"
Revolution: Visions of Woman Life Freedom
SNAG is proud to host this exhibition, organized & curated by Azita Mireshghi and Siavash Jaraiedi.
The current, women-led revolution in Iran is a reminder of how important it is to fight for freedom. Rev♀luti♀n: Visions of women life freedom is a virtual exhibition of adornment as a powerful political and educational tool, amplifying the voices of those fighting for a free and peaceful life against the Islamic Regime occupying Iran.
By creating a space for dialogue and reflection, Rev♀luti♀n brings attention to this historical moment through art.
Rev♀luti♀n highlights the challenges and sacrifices made for achieving true freedom and equality, to spread awareness and bring about positive change.
Link to exhibition here.
Click below for a pdf version of the archived full exhibition
| revolution.pdf |
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The Force of UnityBrass, Recycled Bullet Casings, Human Hair
2022 In the current female-led movement in Iran, women are cutting their hair as a sign of solidarity and as an act of rebellion against forced hijab and oppression. I led an open call for hair submissions, including a video of the participant cutting their hair and saying the movement's slogan, "woman, life, freedom", which I utilized in a video montage related to this work. I collected the hairs and created this piece as a symbolic armor against the Islamic Regime currently occupying Iran. The cuff bracelet is historically associated with female power; to me this is a superhero's cuff: The Iranian Woman. She stands in solidarity with her sisters and fights for freedom, equal rights, and liberty; some of her many superpowers are strength, bravery, resilience and unity. |
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Ask Me Why You Can’tCopper, Bronze, Ribbon, Velvet
2023 Portrait photography by Eliana Morales @planeteli333 Look me in my eyes and ask me why you can’t. Did you know that the Islamic Regime currently occupying Iran uses blinding (by shooting people in the eye) as a weapon of war against protesters? Blinding as a weapon of fear and control. Please check out Iran Wire’s special report here to understand how and why this is happening. For -Elaheh Tavakolian, Young Kurdish Woman Who Inspired the Protest Movement -Benita Kiani Flavarjani, Blinded in One Eye at Age Five -Zoha Mousavi, Beautician from Isfahan -Ghazal Ranjkesh, Law Student Whose Words Became a Slogan -Niloufar Aghaee, Midwife from Tehran -Saman, the Refugee Who Spoke to International Media -Nazanin, Teenager Who Couldn't Stand Poverty -Mohsen Kafshgar, Children's Rights Activist from Amol -Behzad Hamrahi, Veteran Protester from Tehran -Shahin, Kurdish Man Hit by at Least 90 Lead Pellets -Soheil, Café Owner from Shiraz -Kowsar Khoshnoodi Kia, Archery Champion and Women's Rights Activist -The Joker of Tehran, A Clown Who Shares Others' Pain -Mostafa, Returning to Protest after Being Shot -Ali Mohammadi, Defiant After Losing His Left Eye -Farid Rashidi, Hairdresser Who Can No Longer Work -Yaser Alvandiani, an Accomplished Artist and Athlete -Helia Babayi, The Birdwatcher Who Sacrificed An Eye -Amir Velayati, The Man Who Turned His Shooter into a Poem -Shahriar, Robbed of His Eye but Not His Voice -Ali Tahoneh, The Victory of Light Over Darkness -Kimia Zand, The Shining Light of Hope -Iman, Looking for a Miracle -Kowsar Eftekhari, The Phoenix Who Rose From Her Ashes -Raheleh Amini, My Injured Eye is a Badge of Honor -Parsa Ghobadi, Dumped in an Alleyway After Being Shot and Tortured -Seyed Javad Mousavi, a Father of Two Shot in Both Eyes and Killed -And all the other brave and courageous Iranians fighting for freedom…. |