Having been an art enthusiast for as long as I can remember, art has evidently played a crucial role in my life and the lives of millions of others by being an important medium of self-expression. Through observation, imitation, and experimentation, art engages non-verbally with the viewer's emotions through an artistic intention. The viewer can create a personal narrative with the artist and the art piece based on their experiences and expertise. Thereby, I believe that visual art, be it digital or traditional, plays a crucial role in voicing opinions in situations where social injustice and social inequality prevail.
Being a literary enthusiast, I am fascinated by the feminist theory and the movement itself. Feminism is a collective term for movements and ideologies that advocate for equal rights for women in political, economic, social, and cultural spheres. Feminists believe in the idea that women should be treated equally to men.
In support of the movement, feminist art is a category of art practices supporting the women’s rights movement and the feminist theory that emerged in the late 1960s and 1970s. Using their art, the artists challenged and sought to change the contemporary world by opposing institutional biases, which are based on the dominance of men in both art and society, thus supporting "women's work" and making and exhibiting works of all kinds without any limitations. Through their works, they sought to eradicate sexism and oppression, and expose dark realities like women conforming to societal expectations. As a result of this movement, women and the minority sections of society had access to opportunities and spaces that were previously unavailable. A historical perspective on Iranian feminism can be used to determine the viability of implementing this art practice in real life.
Iran's women's rights situation epitomises the relevance of feminism in our time. Sexist representation has been shaped by many factors, including patriarchal and patrimonial patterns, state policies, and ideologies such as nationalism, anti-imperialism, socialism, and Islamism. The history of Iranian feminism dates back 150 years ago, commencing with the killing of Tahereh Ghorratolein in 1852 who was the first feminist movement leader killed by the government of Ghajar (Persian dynasty).
The progress in this movement was highlighted in 1906 with a revolution called Mahrooteh in which women supported domestic industries, constituting the Central Bank and creating secret communities and publications. The pro-liberty women established the first girls' schools and presented demands like training, voting, and banning polygamy in the form of newspapers, night papers and personal letters to the parliament. During the Pahlavi I and II dynasty, women became aware of their fundamental rights like voting, divorce, and surrogacy.
However, the Islamic revolution took place in 1979 in which they had to fight to achieve their “wasted rights”, thereby focusing on the eradication of patriarchy and rebelling against the imposed repressive Islamic attire (lack of freedom of choice), the veil, which is a part of Islamic system. The accomplishments that came with tremendous difficulty for women were all challenged, as were women's perspectives on issues, and women were fired from jobs owing to their wardrobes. In addition, conservative morality was imposed with heavy sanctions if rejected.
The Iranian women, throughout the years of different systems of domination, have endlessly worked towards attaining their basic rights and are still in progress. Iranian Women are still doing their utmost to change these imposed customs. In the past three decades, men as well as women have been under pressure. Women have had limitations in their attire, but men have also not been exempt. As a result, the feminist movement has not generally grown as much as it ought to have over time. Liberal administration is necessary for such a scenario where men and women are both denied their fundamental human rights to achieve freedom; however, such an environment does not exist in Iran currently.
Since Mahsa Amini died in the morality police's custody on September 16, 2022, hijabs have been burned in resistance, symbolising disapproval of Iran's officials who abuse human rights in the name of the country's regime. The guidance patrol imprisoned her for incorrectly wearing her headscarf, which represents an instance of using intimidation and violence to influence the Islamic regime. But in my opinion, she was not killed in vain because this instance has made the West acknowledge the long-drawn battle of Iranian women simply to obtain their most fundamental rights, as well as the risks they run if they defy the contradictory laws.
As a picture is worth a thousand words, feminist art in this situation can be significantly vital in going beyond the aesthetic. By using connotation as a medium, this narrative of anger and frustration as well as incredible female energy of hope of new dawn towards freedom will act as a medium to enable them to fight against the regime. As an artist, I believe that language art is universal, and it’s boundless! I believe artists are inspired to create and keep doing so, especially during times of such a strong movement, to ensure the basic exchange of thoughts and sustain the movement. Art is not just based on pleasing the eye, it’s supposed to trigger the audience to enter the world of thoughts that they have never experienced before, it should question their own beliefs and knowledge and gain a whole new perspective on the situation. Thus, in such a situation where there are frequent blackouts and blocking of social media, the use of VPN connections or even use of tangible creations such as banners, posters, and installations have played a crucial role in distilling a complex problem down to its bare essentials so that even a child or someone without any basic understanding may comprehend the current situation.
As people will unite in solidarity, this sense of resilience and perseverance between men and women chanting in a herculean tone, “women, life, freedom” signifies the hope for creating a better world, rather than just being a part of the herd. This rebellion is against the ugly face of misogyny and yearns for humanity's empowerment and evolution. Autonomy is a universal right, and everyone shall achieve it.
Here's a glimpse into Saaisha's Art-
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