Democracy Is Hard

For more than a century, Iranians have carried the enduring dream of freedom and democracy through uprisings, movements, and revolutions. Their struggle reminds us that democracy is not inherited. It is learned, nurtured, and strengthened through everyday practice. As an Iranian American artist and activist in the diaspora, I use my work to amplify voices that power seeks to silence, bear witness to the resilience of the Iranian people, and cultivate greater awareness of the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights.