Layers of Freedom

Textiel, fotografie, plexiglas en stop-motion worden gebruikt om persoonlijke verhalen over afkomst, identiteit en vrijheid te vertellen. Verschillende materialen en technieken brengen herinneringen en culturele wortels samen.

Roots, Freedom & Iran This project, created as part of a graduation project at the Secondary Art Institute in Ghent, explores the artist’s Iranian heritage and the position of women in Iran before and after the 1979 revolution. The first work is a printed textile featuring a series of photographs showing the transition from freedom before 1979 to the restrictions that followed. The images were first created as a stop-motion animation and then printed onto fabric at OpenLab. The textile refers both to the compulsory headscarf and to flags used to express identity and solidarity. The second work consists of three rows of plexiglass, displaying the Persian words 'Iran, woman, free. 'The transparent material creates the illusion of looking through, while still blocking a complete view. It reflects how, from the outside, we can see fragments of Iran without ever having the full picture — especially when access to information and communication is restricted. Together, the works connect personal heritage with questions of freedom, visibility and identity.