The Ideal, 2021

51×75

pastel, charcoal, polychrome

Through the mediums of pastel, charcoal, and polychrome, I have sought to give form to the pervasive scrutiny faced by women in our society. This large piece stands as a visual critique of the reductive checklist by which a woman is judged, a sequence that eclipses her true identity. The figure, draped in a fusion of traditional Qajar period and modern Iranian clothing, embodies the historical and contemporary pressures that cloak a woman’s individuality in layers of imposed societal roles.

I have deliberately illuminated her breasts to represent the initial and often overriding valuation of physical attractiveness. Her ring, a subtle yet poignant detail, speaks to her marital status—a condition frequently used to define her worth. The birthing chair, not merely a piece of furniture but a symbol, represents the expectation of motherhood, while the obscured stone of her identity represents the neglect of her essence and ambitions. Her head, inclined in a gesture of discontent, is a silent rebuke of these constraints.

In my work, I challenge the viewer to see beyond the superficial checklist that overshadows a woman’s myriad roles—including her slightly tilted head, representing her disagreement of being represented in such position. The absence of detail in certain areas against the sharp definition of others underscores the selective acknowledgment that society grants to facets of a woman’s life.

My intention is to highlight the relentless inventory that precedes any recognition of a woman’s capabilities or desires. It is a call to reconsider the way we see and value the women around us, to look past the checklist and honor the entirety of their humanity.