by Iran is currently going through social upheaval. Following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after being detained by Iran’s morality police, the country has responded with protests in which women burn their hijabs and cut their hair, as well as a joint strike across the country. These protests have sparked expressions of solidarity around the world as people march in support of Iranian women demanding an end to the restriction of their human rights.
For illustrator Roshi Rouzebhani, born and raised in Tehran before emigrating to the UK in 2011, the events have caused many mixed feelings. “As an Iranian woman, I know the daily struggle you face living under a patriarchal dictatorship,” he tells Creative Boom.
Women in Iran protest after the death of Mahsa Amini
Roshi left Iran in 2011
“I also know the courage it takes to be out on the streets without a hijab and fighting for your rights while the regime may arrest or even kill you. I am in awe of the courage and strength of my people and I am proud of them. At the same time, I’m angry, sad and scared, but hopeful!”
To scream for freedom with his art, Roshi has been creating illustrations that pay tribute to the protesters. She was especially motivated to add her voice to the movement after the Internet shutdown in Iran. “I want to be the voice of the brave women of Iran and echo what they sing in the streets, which is ‘Zan, Zendegi, Azadi’, which means ‘Woman, Life, Freedom,’” she explains.
“In my illustrations I try to celebrate the struggle of my people and show my solidarity. I try to use the power of illustration to convey their messages directly so that everyone can understand without the need for translation.
“I’m glad that so far, in addition to the illustrations I’ve created for my social networks or posters to use in protests around the world, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with The Guardian Weekly, New Yorker and Die Zeit to raise the voice of Las Iranian women in search of freedom.
His artistic style was honed through editorial illustration.
Roshi is angry, scared and hopeful for the future.
Roshi believes that art can change the world
As she suggests, Roshi’s ability to create illustrations that impact and connect without the need for language has been honed through her work as an editorial illustrator. Having created artwork for clients such as the BBC 100 Women and The Washington Post, to name a few, she has created a unique and striking visual approach to conveying her message.
However, this style has not only been sharpened thanks to his illustration commissions. After studying IT and moving to the UK with her husband in 2011, Roshi faced language and cultural barriers in her daily life. “I decided to develop my own visual language, a language that everyone can understand, to reflect my inner state of how I see the world as an Iranian immigrant woman,” she reveals.
“Since then I have been constantly developing my visual language and at the moment I use digital illustration to express my ideas. I am passionate about gender equality and women’s empowerment is at the core of my work. I also love working on social or mental health problems.
Roshi’s artwork crosses cultures and language barriers
Roshi’s self-published book celebrates Iranian women from all walks of life.
Longtime Creative Boom readers will remember that this work includes her self-published book, 50 Inspiring Iranian Women. As her name suggests, this book consists of portrait illustrations and mini-biographies of 50 Iranian women from all walks of life that “highlight their achievements, despite all the limitations and discrimination they faced.”
And despite his mixed feelings about the current state of Iran, Roshi remains optimistic that art and his illustrations have a significant role to play in the discussion. In his opinion, art can be a positive force that changes lives. “I believe that art has the power to change people to save the world! I believe that art has the power to influence people’s perspectives and beliefs to impact their actions.”
She adds: “Art has this unique ability to go beyond nation-states. Artists can deliver powerful messages directly and immediately, so change can happen every day, artwork by artwork. “.
