Give Me a Word

Installation | 2012

"Give Me a Word" is an evocative art installation that serves as a visceral response to the turbulent aftermath of the 2009 Iranian election and the subsequent Green Movement. Amid widespread belief that the election results were manipulated, a profound societal upheaval unfolded, which has come to be recognized as a seminal event in the early 21st century Middle Eastern socio-political landscape.

This artwork comprises three distinct but thematically interconnected installations. Through them, the artist grapples with themes of self-reflection, electoral integrity, and the suffocating force of censorship. Red lines traverse and connect the pieces, symbolizing the restrictive boundaries imposed by authoritarian regimes and the constraints felt by a generation under duress.

One of the most poignant elements of this piece is the self-portrait of the artist submerged in water, a metaphor for the oppressive pressures faced by his contemporaries. It also speaks to the submersion of identity and voice that occurs under such strains. This element, combined with the fragmentation and distortion of the image, further amplifies the themes of censorship and the fracturing of self and society under authoritarian control.

The economic and emotional fallout of these events led many talented individuals, including the artist, to emigrate from Iran, seeking solace and expression in more receptive environments. "Give Me a Word" is more than an artistic expression—it is a historical testament and a personal narrative interwoven with national grief, a call for remembrance, and a piercing examination of the struggle for freedom and identity.