Unveiling Iran: Rediscovering Art Beyond the Veil
In 1979, I left Tehran as a child, swept away by the waves of revolution, my family moving to California in search of safety and new beginnings. Iran became an enigma in my mind, colored by family stories, faded photographs, and the nostalgia of lost streets and distant mountains. But in 2018, nearly four decades later, I found myself back in Tehran, this time as a designer and cultural observer, ready to re-discover the city I had last known in the innocence of childhood.
Returning to Tehran as an adult was nothing short of surreal. The city felt both familiar and foreign, layered with memories that were no longer mine but rather the echoes of a life that could have been. Yet, walking through the bazaars, past historical landmarks, and into art galleries, I felt a powerful connection to the textures, colors, and architectural marvels surrounding me.
What struck me most was how Tehran lives and breathes through its design and artistry. The subtle beauty of ancient Persian architecture, its intricate tilework, and the harmonious geometry in every building rekindled something inside me—a profound respect for craftsmanship and an understanding of my roots in ways I hadn’t fully realized. The artisanal skills of carpet weaving, calligraphy, and metalwork held stories of resilience, woven with care and precision.
Tehran’s vibrant art scene became an unexpected well of inspiration. I met artists who work with modern techniques while paying homage to traditional Persian aesthetics, blending the past with the future in ways that resonate with the complex Iranian identity. These creatives, standing on the shoulders of their ancestors, had tapped into an innovative spirit that felt timeless and brave, uniting the beauty of Persian tradition with a contemporary edge.
Returning to Tehran changed how I see design. It wasn’t just about aesthetics but about narrative, a rich tapestry of history and identity. My experience in Tehran reawakened my understanding that design is more than a visual experience; it is an ongoing dialogue with history, a way to honor the past while dreaming forward. This journey home has left me with a deepened appreciation for the power of design to carry us back to our roots and beyond.
