In 2016, I had the honour of being part of the Blue Gold exhibition, which was held at Etemad Gallery in Tehran from April 22 to May 10. Curated by Leila Varaste and Vida Zaim, the exhibition brought together a diverse group of artists to address one of the most pressing issues of our time: the global water crisis. The title “Blue Gold” emphasised the value of water as an essential, yet increasingly scarce, resource.

Blue Gold Open Call 2016

My painting, “Harvesting the Mirage” (acrylic on canvas, 150×100 cm), was selected for the online exhibition section. The work explored the concept of illusion in relation to scarcity, a reflection on how appearances of abundance can deceive us, especially when it comes to natural resources. In the context of the exhibition, this piece aligned with the overarching theme of water as a finite and fragile asset.

Harvesting the Mirage – Oil on canvas – 150 x 100 mm – Blue Gold Open Call 2016

The exhibition received coverage from various media outlets, PanArt Magazine, Honar Online, Avam Magazine and Gallery Online. For me, this event was not just an opportunity to showcase my work but a chance to engage in a larger conversation about environmental sustainability.

Looking back, participating in Blue Gold remains a significant moment in my artistic journey. It reinforced the power of art to provoke thought and action on critical global issues, and I’m grateful to the curators and organisers for providing a platform to address such an important topic.

Blue Gold Open Call 2016