Artist: Cheryl De Ciantis (cdeciantis@kairios.com) I accept to exhibit anonymously Title: The Sisterhood of Eyeless Women پیوند خواهران کور شده
Year Created: 2023
Title: The Sisterhood of Eyeless Women پیوند خواهران کور شده - download hi-res version -
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Artist Statement - download file (here)
Art specifications (size/type/medium of artwork):
Digital painting, horizontal orientation
Title: The Sisterhood of Eyeless Women پیوند خواهران کور شده
(submitted by Cheryl De Ciantis and to be exhibited anonymously)
Cheryl De Ciantis - Art Statement (download .DOCX here)
Women continue to rise against repression in Iran, led by a new generation of demonstrators, protestors and activists. Even though the regime continues to carry out horrific, judicially mandated crimes against the people of Iran and all humanity, hope is evergreen among women and the men who support their cause, and stark courage is manifest. In November 2022, 140 ophthalmologists in Iran wrote a letter reporting that many people treated by medical centers had been blinded in one or both eyes after being deliberately targeted by bullets and paintballs fired at demonstrators, often at very close range. The NCRI Women Committee, reporting on the fates of women protestors and resistors in Iran, called out the emergence of a new sisterhood in their story posted January 17, 2023, “Brave Iranian women lose their eyes, but their hearts still beat for Iran.” These women have posted selfies on social media proclaiming their wounds as badges of hope, commitment, and love. One of them, G. R., recalled: “The last image my right eye recorded was the smile of the man shooting at me.” Her subsequent posting of a glamorous selfie boldly displaying her injury is a statement of calm and implacable resistance. Others have used their new eye patches in creative ways to express their love for their country. Many flash the V for Victory sign.
The contrast between the inexplicable hatred of the regime and its foot soldiers toward their own people and the love and humanity of these women says it all. We want to live, they say, we want to love, we will stand up for our natural right to be as we are and you cannot stop us. From the bottom of my heart I thank these women, and all the people of Iran who stand against vicious repression. They inspire me, they give me hope, and they remind me of the power of art and image to resist what is wrong and affirm what is right in our world. Following the prompts of these creative women and to affirm the eternal return of light celebrated at Persian Nowruz, "New Day," I have chosen the white of the Lilium ledebourii, which grows only in Iran, together with the women's signaling red and green hands to honor the brave badge of the Woman-Life-Freedom movement.