Transient Testimonies: The Disposable Chronicles, 2023

“Transient Testimonies: The Disposable Chronicles” is an installation that confronts the viewer with a disturbing reality: the fleeting lifespan of political art and the cyclical neglect of the messages it carries. Swathed in yellow garbage bags, smeared with the blood fake blood) of sacrifice and struggle, the artworks within are imbued with elements of Iranian art, signaling the cultural and political narratives they hold.

Each bag bears a tag, a design that ambiguously reads “Made in Canada/Iran,” symbolizing the dual identity of art influenced by multiple cultures and the blurred lines of its origin once it enters the global discourse. This dual reading also questions the authenticity and valuation of ‘local’ versus ‘international’ in the context of art and activism.

This piece serves as a stark objection to the way political art is consumed and discarded — revered and echoed when it aligns with the trending discourse, only to be later abandoned, along with the plight of its subjects and creators. It is a critique of the commodification of suffering and the reduction of ongoing struggles to momentary trends.

Through “Transient Testimonies: The Disposable Chronicles,” I aim to shed light on the impermanence of society’s empathy and the commodification of dissent. The artwork within these bags, once the herald of urgent issues, now lies as refuse — a powerful metaphor for the neglected future of the artist and the forsaken voices they represent. This installation calls into question our collective commitment to change and challenges the viewer to reflect on the depth of their engagement with art that demands justice and remembrance.