Interview 2

Performing Human Rights.

“Humans have to be able to enjoy suffering… I think that’s how [they] grow,” she laughs.  “And artists must be able to feel and then act, just act.” Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Iranian poet, photographer, and performance artist Zoreh Sadati was always working on new projects and enjoying life in Tehran with friends. Now, she says, she is living in quarantine with her family and life is much slower. While these changes have been difficult, Zoreh tells Roberto that she is savoring this time together with her young nieces and nephews. After all, her art is about human connection and social justice, especially as these topics relate to children and international relations. Zoreh emphasizes that the role of artists is to observe what is happening and act, recording the truth of their experiences. Check out her work here.

Zoreh Sadati

• Northern Iran w dad, childhood home
• Normally, tehran (4h away now)= theater & restaurants
• Early pandemic hard bc living w family; used to being alone but loves them (11 people)
• “My sister and I disagree about many things”
• Counting the days
• Sheltering in place since late February
• Not everyone is in lockdown (2 brothers have to work)
• Her niece has respiratory illness so she can’t see her dad (other kids are home too because of health concerns)
• “It’s very hard but very good for me” (virus measures)
  • Always leaving and having something to do, but this brings her home to be with family
• As an artist, writing poetry on social justice, history, and human connection (also photography)
• What are other artists in Iran doing right now
  • “Humans have to be able to enjoy suffering… I think that’s how [they] grow. And artists must be able to feel and then act, just act”
  • The artist has to think about creating every moment and use any tool in this place
  • The artist observes, not judge
  • The artist does not work with reason
  • The mind and intellect only helps in the processing (intellect is worried like a mom)
  • “I know we are dealing with a kind of trauma, like the first and second world wars”
  • Artists record facts
  • Truth means everything. It is collected in the mind, not what actually happens
  • “Observe, follow the signs, and inspiration never ends. There is inspiration where you wouldn’t think of it. It might be in front of your eyes every day”
• Has your philosophy about being an artist changed
  • These 67 days change my mind more and more
  • Photography, yoga, singing
  • I live fast, but now I’m relaxed
  • This quarantine is good because I’m learning about many subjects (ex. Science, shaman)
• Are you isolated from the news
  • My friends (photographers, theater) their jobs have been canceled
• Government response
  • Laughter “what do you think?”
  • My brothers go to work because they have to go
• Testing?
  • Unknown

• Access to social media/news
  • Facebook, instagram, news, not sure about government
• When will it end
  • Maybe summertime
• What would the dream be of the artist within yourself
  • Poetry is important for me and I want to share all of my poems with people
  • I do just photography
  • My dreams are just for sleep, not awake
  • Writing photography, work w children and parents
  • Working with children: very important
  • Love in the world, relationships between people and among governments
  • People, governments, children
  • Poetry about governments