Performance, part of the exhibition “Fragment of Iran: Colors of Resistance”
Centre 7.5, Isabelle Suret, Paris, December 8, 2023, during my thesis defense under the supervision of Professor Eric Bonnet
The performance Incarnation of a Pietà for Iran pays tribute to the courageous Iranians who have been arrested, imprisoned, and executed since September 2022 as part of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. It reflects on collective memory, resistance, and the ongoing political violence inflicted by the Iranian regime.
Set in a darkened room, the atmosphere was charged with symbolism. A red light was projected onto my body, representing the blood of those lost and the urgent need for justice. In the background, hashtags associated with the movement and events in Iran scrolled continuously, amplifying the connection between the personal and the political.
I wore a long silk gown adorned with Persian motifs, a nod to my heritage, and carried medical bands and pieces of white fabric inscribed with the names of victims. These fragments, held tightly in my arms, symbolized the bodies of those who had been taken. I cradled them as a mother would her children, embodying both the anguish of loss and the dignity of remembrance.
Entering the room, I walked solemnly toward the audience and took a seated position before them, evoking the iconic posture of the Pietà, where a mother holds her murdered child. In this moment of stillness, I began to murmur, recite, and occasionally shout the names of the victims. Interspersed with these names were phrases such as “No to execution, no to torture, no to political prisons.” My voice oscillated between whispers of mourning and cries of defiance, carrying the weight of lives lost and the demand for justice.
After this act of mourning, I stood and moved toward the audience, meeting their gaze. One by one, I offered each person a piece of the fabric I had been holding, inviting them to engage in the act of memory and share the burden of resistance. This gesture symbolized the need for collective responsibility and solidarity in the face of oppression.
Through Incarnation of a Pietà for Iran, I sought to transform the immense pain of loss into a shared cry for justice. The performance aimed to confront the audience with the realities of violence while creating an enduring artistic and political memory. It is both a tribute to the victims and a call for action, urging a collective commitment to empathy, resistance, and change.
