This project in the form of five black and white drawings was inspired by an urge to pay tribute to the victims of a tragic
plane crash that took place near Tehran on 8 January 2020. All 176 passengers and crew onboard were killed when a
Ukraine International Airlines plane was shot down by Iran. Most of
the victims who lost their lives were students and research scholars returning to Canada after the holidays.
The entire incident was too dark and painful to be communicated in words. But remaining silent was not an option either.
The situation called for an innovative and effective way of expression. That way emerged in the form of drawings inspired
by old Iranian lithographic artworks.
From time to time, almost every artist is faced with the challenge of expressing meaningful ideas, thoughts or messages
through his or her works. Some ideas may be too complex or abstract and others may be too plain or unpleasant. Even
though some artists may claim that their art is only to express themselves regardless of how it is received, no one can
deny the sense of fulfilment an effective impact and positive response offers. An understanding of the principle of
balance can play a key role in facilitating expression of the most challenging and even offensive subjects in an appealing
form.
Insights from the notion of opposites containing the messages of balance and the complementary functioning of
opposites provide a solid conceptual background for the practical ideas used in the drawings.
The project has used symbolism at various levels. The set of five drawings using black and white technical pens and
hand printing paper contains five portraits of people seen outside the window frame of an airplane. The dimensions
chosen for the works are almost the same as standard airplane windows and so is their arrangement in the form of a
series. Each of the images represents a real person who was on the ill-fated airplane. The intricate motifs, decorations
and symbols, used to balance out the dark and painful nature of the subject, contain subtle representations of the lives
and dreams of each of the victims.
The general intent is to present an unpleasant reality in a balanced frame and to maintain a constructive mental and
visual balance to involve the viewer without overwhelming him/her or making little or fleeting impact. The idea is to
create mystique and magnetic appeal that could generate curiosity and engage the viewer and create an urge to seek
out hidden messages in the work.
