Air Pollution of Iran 2004 - 2006

Editor: These striking panels are "Air Pollution of Iran" by Mahmoud Bakhshi Moakhar. They look like distressed versions of the Iranian flag. What's your take on their power? Curator: The focus here is clearly on the material degradation of a national symbol. The process of creating these flags, the deliberate aging and wearing away, speaks volumes about the artist’s commentary on Iran's environmental and social state. It is a visual representation of consumption. Editor: Consumption of what, exactly? Curator: Perhaps resources, identity, even hope. The artist uses the flag, a manufactured item imbued with meaning, to highlight the tangible consequences of larger societal forces. It forces us to consider the cost of progress. Editor: So, it's less about the flag itself and more about what it represents in this context? Curator: Precisely. The artist employs the flag as a readymade object, transforming it into a potent symbol of the material realities facing Iran. Editor: I see the piece in a new light now, thank you. Curator: It's a stark reminder of how materials can carry and convey complex social messages.