A site-specific intervention within the “Surface as Memory” series, embedding a narrative from Persian epic literature into the voids of a deteriorated urban structure.
- Public Mural Project – Tehran Beautification Organization, Tehran, Iran, March 2020
This work continues the “Surface as Memory” series by activating an abandoned architectural fragment as both frame and context.
Drawing from the Persian epic Shahnameh, the scene of Rostam and the White Demon is embedded within the dark recesses of the structure. Rather than occupying the wall surface, the figures emerge from its voids—transforming absence into a site of visual presence.
The contrast between the vivid miniature figures and the surrounding decay intensifies the tension between narrative and environment. The blackened interiors function as both backgrounds and spatial depth, reinforcing the illusion of emergence.
By integrating the imagery into the architecture’s negative spaces, the work extends the series’ core approach—treating the existing condition not as a limitation, but as a generative element in the formation of the artwork.
