Continuing from my above reflections on the THE LONG NOW exhibition and reacting to what happened to my fellow artists FA RAZAVI and PETER KENNARD, who exhibited their works as The Bomb Factory Art Foundation’s Window WOnderland at their Marylebone Gallery a response to this year’s theme “Freedom of Speech”. These people chose to not sit quietly and observe or to “distract from the nihilism and the hate” by painting “optimistically, like ice cream” . They very bravely chose to bring people’s attention to difficult inequalities happening in the world today. I admire them. But that comes with consequences. The exhibition was vandalised: windows broken with ice hammers and artworks spat on. It had to close on the 9.01.26, nine days before the official closing date. I am feeling a mix of things: empathy for my fellow artist, disgust and anger towards the primitive brains of vandals, who can’t see beyond their own hate of the collective “enemy”, a bit of envy towards the artists as I believe this type of situation only makes their art stronger and more visible, as well as my own fear and thinking: would I be brave enough to express my opinion through my art so honestly? Or do I prefer to stick to what I know best, mother’s life experiences, which might resonate with some people but are also not specifically directed towards someone in particular? Another question: How can my work help Iranian women? How can I ignore what is happening to them?
As I witnessed what is happening my first response was to go to the studio and see what I can create to release this feeling of anger As I witnessed what is happening my first response was to go to the studio and see what I can create to release this feeling of anger, helplessness, solidarity with other people’s suffering and need for rebellion.