Fight for freedom, rights at forefront of this Kelowna art exhibit

Some days, Nasim Pirhadi feels guilty watching from afar as scores of women and men in her home country of Iran flood the streets, fighting for their rights and freedom.

But the multi-medium artist and current MFA candidate at UBC Okanagan knows every effort in the push for equality and justice in Iran is crucial to the cause.

Pirhadi’s latest work, as part of the We Are Countless exhibit at the Kelowna Art Gallery, exemplifies just that.

Her large print on canvas showcases the many faces and famous locations of colossal protests that have swept through the nation in recent decades.

Featured prominently are scenes from the most recent wave of demonstrations that erupted in the wake of the murder of Jina Amini by the Islamic Republic’s morality police. She was severely beaten while being arrested for “improperly” wearing a hijab and died in hospital three days later.

“My work actively confronts and explores social instability and how it is related to different ways Iranian people fight for their rights, especially Iranian women,” Pirhadi told Kelowna10. “I portray figures of victims and activists and some of the lawyers and others who are active, not just this year, but over the last 43 years since the revolution.”

Beside the canvas is a placard with QR codes that direct to short videos detailing a story of the figures showcased.

She hopes her art raises awareness about the ongoing struggle of the Iranian people by highlighting a slice of the movement.

And despite the harsh crackdown from the governing regime, Pirhadi sees hope on the horizon and admits radical change has already taken place.

“Five years ago, it was very strange for women to take their headscarves off in the streets,” she said. “But now, many things have changed. The bravery is spreading and there are lots of people in different social classes that are taking off their head scarf and heading to the streets.”

She said the scenes playing out in Tehran and across the nation today are the direct result of years of activism.

Also on display is the work of Reyhan Yazdani. The professor at Emily Carr University is showcasing mainly ceramics and handmade paper prints, which focus on family, life at home, and coming to Canada from Iran as a woman.

Curator Christine May said it is important to showcase art that explores relevant topics that are happening globally.

“We see a lot of activity in Kelowna with groups that support rights of women and girls in Iran and around the globe,” she said. “These two artists, in particular, are bringing a feminist perspective in their practices and working with materials that are very diverse and interesting.”

She said visitors have been eager to see the pieces, to better understand the lives and activity of the Iranian people and what they are fighting for. May said it’s been rewarding to give both artists a platform.

The exhibit runs until April 16.