The Colour-Blind Society project 2021-2024, is based on an idea inspired by the lives of Saartje Baartman (b. 1789 Cape Colony, ⴕ 1815 Paris) and Ota Benga (b. 1883 Congo Free State, ⴕ 1916 Virginia). The stories about both individuals illustrate extreme forms of exploitation and marginalization. As a result, I discovered an extremely dark and complex chapter of history, with themes of colonialism, slavery, human gardens, and gender and racial discrimination. My focus on the visual and conceptual aspects of this colonialism, left me thinking about how I could create awareness about the legacy of colonialism and its continued working impact on contemporary society. In other words, how could I critically incorporate this "dark" history into my visual practice.
The Protests, censorship and violent reaction of the Iranian government anno 2023 were a contemporary offshoot of the racial, colonial, degrading and discriminatory movements that were at the root of the human gardens and the historical facts surrounding Saartje Baartman and Ota Benga in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The combination of history, self-insight and current events led to the development of a highly idiosyncratic series of works within the idea of Colour-blind Society.
The development of a personal symbolic language and visual metaphors around identity, power, and oppression always remained subject to some form of censorship or self-censorship. Yet just through my work, I try to encourage reflection on social justice, equality, and human rights.
