Sahand Heshmati Afshar

Sahand Bijeh [Kalam] Zanjani

I don’t think that they are not in the body of society, but rather, on the contrary, are uncovered and more “real” members of it. They are not “others” but a precise portion of Iran’s social culture.
At the front-end of this project, I started by drawing society’s obnoxious characters. Their images have often presented on news and social media; but not quite often in visual arts community.
Portion of these characters are too repulsive which it’s hardly possible for one to compare her/himself to them. But with some of them, not only one can find similarities but also they are praised by some people for being wit, strong or genius, occasionally. Anyways, characters of these side face drawings, are not taken as the member of society or counted for so small group of it.
I believe, if I had lived in their conditions, grown up in their families and been in their terms, I would have committed their actions. For instance, not billions but perhaps I would have embezzled one or two billons of tomans by economic rent, which some of these characters have or had; or ruined a city and made an effort on a historical and political movement of a period.
Hence, I don’t think that they are not in the body of society, but rather, on the contrary, are uncovered and more “real” members of it. They are not “others” but a precise portion of Iran’s social culture. They have lived in Iran’s socio-cultural context and had the opportunity of becoming. They are the products of this context. A portion which by political, socio-ethical or historical necessities has been unfolded.
A common experience might be found between the characters and the audience. It could be so many things since they have ordinary life most of the time and nearly similar to the rest. They get up in the morning, finish their breakfast, put on their similar cloths and rest at night.