Voices of resistance: Iranian artists using art to amplify calls for freedom

As protests for women’s freedom in Iran enter the seventh month, Iranian artists around the world continue to support the movement from afar.

There were only three subjects that Nasim Nasr learned about as a young art student in Iran. 

‘I knew from a young age that I wanted to grow up and study art,’ says Nasr. ‘But once I arrived at art school, I knew that something wasn’t right. Why were we only studying men, objects and landscapes?

‘I decided that I was going to learn about female bodies, female shapes and anatomy outside of the university,’ she continues. ‘My first act of rebellion was gathering female students from the university and going underground to a hidden basement where we would do life drawing classes.’

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Jasmine Penman is an arts professional and freelance writer from Naarm/Melbourne. Since acquiring her Masters of Art History & Curatorship from the University of Melbourne, she has worked across both the commercial and public art sectors in the city, specialising in contemporary art.