I started this recent project when I heard about the brutal death of Mahsa/Zhina Amini by the so-called morality police on September 16, 2022, in Tehran. With this project, I aim to commemorate the many beloved lives taken from us during the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising in Iran.

I once again picked up the book trans(re)lating house one by Poupeh Missaghi and reread pages 120-128. This reading inspired me to make the first drawing for Mahsa/Zhina. The imagery of this work comes from images collected via social media and Persian miniature paintings. I recreated these images by gluing thread on paper. For each of the following drawings, I started the process by cutting some strands of my hair. Then, I used the hair combined with the thread to make the work.

These three drawings are for Mahsa/Zhina Amini, twenty-two years old; Nika Shakarami, sixteen years old; and Asra Panahi, fifteen years old.

—Roya Amigh

© 2023 by Roya Amigh. All rights reserved.