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Politics

The Art of Protest: Iran's New Images of Resistance

October 2, 2022
Samira Rahi
2 min read
Iran's protest art has shown stunning power since the outbreak of demonstrations with the murder of Mahsa Amini during her detention in morality police custody
Iran's protest art has shown stunning power since the outbreak of demonstrations with the murder of Mahsa Amini during her detention in morality police custody
The women cutting their hair, at various protests throughout Iran and the world, has become a symbol of protest against the Iranian government
The women cutting their hair, at various protests throughout Iran and the world, has become a symbol of protest against the Iranian government
From famous artists such as Mana Neyestani, to young female and male artists who, although not famous, cannot be called anonymous, all have become great narrators of what is happening in Iran these days
From famous artists such as Mana Neyestani, to young female and male artists who, although not famous, cannot be called anonymous, all have become great narrators of what is happening in Iran these days

Iran's protest art has shown stunning power since the outbreak of demonstrations with the murder of Mahsa Amini during her detention in morality police custody.

In solidarity and mourning for a 22-year-old woman, who had traveled from Saqqez to Tehran with her family for a holiday before starting university, a new form of creative artistic works has emerged, created by a large number of artists both known and unknown.

From famous artists such as Mana Neyestani, to young female and male artists who, although not famous, cannot be called anonymous, all have become great narrators of what is happening in Iran.

People online have created images, music, videos, posters, and graphics, using the name and limited images available of Mahsa Amini.

This narrative is different from the bitterness and darkness of protest art in November 2019. The new story seems to have originated from Mahsa's red Kurdish shirt while dancing, and tied to colors that are the crystallization of the slogan "Women, Life, Freedom".

These graphics and videos have, after a few days, and despite the pain and suffering felt by millions of Iranians, turned into the signs of a new hope.

Clenched fists, dishevelled hair, old men and women next to teenagers, hair adorning Tehran’s Azadi Tower, and a prominent symbol of the protests, the cutting of hair of Iranian women, have all been seen in recent artwork. The women cutting their hair, at various protests throughout Iran and the world, has in particular become a symbol of protest against the Iranian government.

Roger Waters, the singer of the legendary group Pink Floyd, on September 27, at a concert in Los Angeles, put the name and image of Mahsa Amini on the concert hall's huge screen.

Before this concert, he supported Iranian women in the nationwide protests on his social media channels, and said: "I will not forget Mahsa Amini, just as I did not forget Neda Agha Soltan."

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