In this project Mehrdad aims to address cultural, political and religious contradictions of Iranian government support for Palestine, where political demands replaced by religious aspirations, and even humans ideals and national interests serve the unclear political demands.
“As an Iranian, you are inducted every day, Palestine is part of the body of Islam and this is your religious duty to support its right and its people. Part of the country's budget in Iran is spent on supporting Palestinian militant groups, while Iran is facing difficult economic conditions because of Iran's international sanctions, and Iran's passport has been banned from traveling to Palestine.”
This collaborative project gave Mehrdad from Iran and Salem from Palestine the opportunity to speak about their social and political views without a blind eye. A discourse among people who have paid a heavy penalty for supporting each other, but have less succeeded in talking directly to each other about their real desires. A demand that has always been under the influence of ambitious political demands.
In this project, affected by posters of martyrs (a common cultural element in both countries), people who have been killed for religious agendas or defending their homeland, Mehrdad and Salem chose the poster as a comprehensive and political tool for expressing our concerns and desires. An attempt to search for identity.
Poster placed over Qais Assali's Costume Party at the Moslem Temple, exhibited in the MSU Union in spring of 2019.