– Shamim and Shima Aghaaminiha, who are now living in Regina, Canada. They left Iran 3 years ago to come to Canada to study. Since then, they have used art as a way to express their views about the political situation in Iran.
– In Iran, artists could not make political statements through their work under the authoritarian Iranian regime. But in Canada, they have more freedom of expression.
– Their recent artwork uses ceramics to depict red tulips, which symbolize blood and martyrdom in Persian art, on a map of Iran. It also features a ladder representing people uniting against oppression.
– The sisters say this work allows them to reflect on the struggle of the Iranian people and pay tribute to those who have died opposing the regime.
– Creating art, especially with clay, is a form of “emotional catharsis” for the sisters to process their feelings about the situation in their home country.
– They feel that though they left Iran, their artwork lets them still contribute to the cause for change and freedom there.
Source: CBC
