LOS ANGELES — Mina Alikhani calls it the most raw and bold work she’s done.
In her latest series of paintings entitled, “Revolution,” the Los Angeles-based artist uses her work to raise awareness about ongoing oppression and human rights violations against women living in Iran.
“They don’t have eyes. They don’t have color in their skin and it’s a bit of a representation of the deaths, the loss,” Alikhani said.
The work, meant to be provocative, explores the taboo, rage, pain and fight for sovereignty against what she calls a terrorist regime.
“It’s not just empty shells with hijabs walking around," said Alikhani. "There is an intensity and a ferocity to the women fighting right now to push back against the government."
Many of the paintings portray woman in hijabs reclaiming their power and overtaking their persecutors. She says people are often drawn to the imagery and then want to learn more.
“It makes them ask, ‘Well, what’s actually happening?’ And then when they find out, it’s insane. Everyone’s just shocked and appalled,” Alikhani said.
She is a second-generation Iranian American who grew up in California and started drawing as a child. When she began painting, she found it incredibly therapeutic but never imagined it would turn into a career.
“As I started to use painting and art more frequently as therapy as just a meditative practice, I just found that so much more was flowing,” she said.
Her first exhibition entitled “Defiance” focused on breaking cultural norms.
“I happened to have my show on Sept. 16, unbeknownst to me that would be the first day of the protests in Iran for the beginning of what we are now seeing as a revolution,” Alikhani said.
Those protests in Iran and around the world followed the death of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old died in the custody of the morality police in Tehran after they accused her of not wearing the mandatory Islamic hijab.
“That could have been me and their voices are being silenced, and I really do believe that art is such a vehicle for information,” Alikhani said. “I see girls my age, younger girls, older women, everyone. I just see how much their lives are being limited, and it just breaks my heart.”
She calls herself a rebel with a cause, proud to advocate for her people by showing women feeling empowered.
“I really do want my work to provide a sense of hope and courage that there is a means to the end with this fight,” she said.
Painting a picture of positivity to brighten even the darkest landscape.
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