Zahhak, say Hi to the End

"My exhibition, Zahhak, Say Hi to the End is an exploration of resilience, memory, and resistance through the symbolic language of the lotus flower. In Iranian mythology, the lotus is a sacred emblem of rebirth and endurance, yet in my work it also bears the wounds of violence, silence, and grief. Each ceramic lotus I create carries traces of both beauty and trauma, embodying the lived experiences of women in Iran who have endured systemic oppression yet continue to rise and bloom.

Through this body of work, I honor the women whose lives and voices were cut short, as well as the grieving mothers who have transformed sorrow into acts of defiance. Their stories live within the petals, veils, bullet holes, and fractures of these sculptures.

By inviting the audience to move among the flowers, write their own messages on the walls, and add their voices to the chants inscribed in the gallery, I hope to create a space of collective remembrance and dialogue.

This exhibition is not only a lament for what has been lost, but also a call to imagine renewal. The lotus, growing out of murky waters yet opening in bloom, reminds us that even in the darkest conditions, resistance and hope can rise together." - Mahtab Ghasemi