For my culminating project in my final year at OCAD, I based my thesis project on Persian poet Ferdowsis' epic book of poems The Shahnameh. I chose to illustrate one of the many stories from the book; Rostam and Sohrab. It tells of a tragic tale about a father and son as they meet in battle on opposite sides of a war. However they are unknown to each other having never met. At the end of their battle, Rostam delivers a fatal blow, unwittingly killing his son. Sohrab's identity was only revealed as he died in his father's arms. Inspired by the heavily ornamented Persian miniatures, this series depicts Ferdowsi's story in both a modern and personal take.
Ever since immigrating to Canada, It has become more important to me over the years to share stories of Middle Eastern Context. Stories that are as well known as works created by the likes of Virgil and Homer. This project became doubly important for me to work on with these politically charged times bringing hatred to minority communities. It ultimately added a greater weight to the significance of telling a non-western story that most people do not know about, created in the best way I know how to express myself.
