"My Beautiful Iranian Childhood"
Mixed Media on Canvas, 2011
This series of paintings entitled 'My beautiful Iranian childhood’ comprises a series of mixed media and photo collage on canvas. The inspiration for this collection is based on the disparity between the lifestyle of a typical middle class family in Tehran and the religious-political atmosphere of Iran during the 1980’s after the Islamic revolution. The works include my family photographs pitched against imagery of the post revolution period - including the prevalence of religious ceremonies and symbolism of the war. During the 8 years of the Iran-Iraq war and, the promotion of the new post revolution era, the majority of middle class Iranian families maintained concealed lifestyles with moments of joy in parallel to the ongoing war and a revolution. In contrast to the global perception of Iranians after the Islamic revolution, my generation's childhood had some happy moments too.
Parisa Aminolahi
"20 Million Man Army"
"Hejleh"
"Untitled"
"Last Haft Sin"
Mixed media on canvas, 80 x 100 cm, 2009
Portraying the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, incorporating Iranian soldiers and some female supporters of the revolution, a photograph of me among my friends and a famous motto of the eight years Iran-Iraq war which was written all over the walls of my primary school: "War, war till victory" as well as a repetition of the famous phrase of Ayatollah Khomeini to motivate the youth to participate in the war: "20 million man army".
"Hejleh"
Mixed media on canvas, 100 x 80 cm, 2011
Picture of me and my sister standing beside a hejleh*. The script consists of some streets in Tehran named after martyrs of the Iran-Iraq war.
*A hejleh is a both made with crystals and lights in commemoration of a martyr. It symbolises the wedding chamber (hejleh)of a departed unmarried youth and has its origins in the wedding of Imam Hossein's son, at the time of Battle of Karbala, who became martyred.
The hejleh became customary during the Iran and Iraq war in memory of the martyrs of that war. This was a common sight during my childhood in Iran.
"Arbaeen"
Mixed media on canvas, 100 x 80 cm, 2009
Portraying photographs of my family gathering, Alam (an emblem of a Shiite ritual mourning ceremony during Arbaeen; an important day in the Islamic holy month of Moharram) and a dirge poem in Farsi for this morning.
"Karbala 65"
Mixed media on canvas, 100 x 70 cm, 2009
A portrayal of a family gathering photograph which was taken in the Iranian year 1365, surrounded by a group of Iranian clerics. The repetitive text is a slogan of Iran-Iraq war; "Karbala, Karbala we are coming".
(Karbala is a city in Iraq and is one of the holiest cities for Shia Muslims).
Mixed media on canvas, 100 x 70 cm, 2009
Portraying a photograph of my family under a painting of former Iranian leader, Ayatollah Khomeini and his supporters in Jamaran; the home of Ayatollah Khomeini during his lifetime in Tehran.
The repetitive text is a famous motto of that era: "We are all your soldiers Khomeini, we are ready for your orders".
Mixed media on canvas, 100 x 70 cm, 2009
This personal piece consists of a repetitive photograph of my parents and siblings with a written memory of our last Iranian new year , Nowrouz, together.
(Haft Sin or seven S's is a traditional table setting of Nowrouz, the traditional Iranian spring celebration and new year. The haft seen table includes seven specific items, all starting with the Seen, S, in the Persian alphabet.)
