TEHRAN – The photo exhibition “On the Shoulders of Tears,” a visual narrative of the national rituals honoring and commemorating Iran’s martyrs, including funerals, is currently on view at the Palestinian Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran.
The photo exhibition, organized by the Art of Sacred Defense and Resistance Film Affairs Department in collaboration with the Palestinian Museum of Contemporary Art, opened on Wednesday in the presence of a distinguished gathering of commanders, cultural and artistic personnel, and eminent artists, ISNA reported.
Brigadier General Navi Sohrabi, Vice-Admiral of the Foundation for the Preservation of Sacred Values of Defense and Resistance, spoke at the event and emphasized the importance of the timing of this exhibition. “The unknown martyrs brought victory to our country throughout their lives. The emotions we experience when we look at these statues stem from their sacrifice for independence,” he said.
It added: “These martyrs have brought double honor to Iran, once through their sacrifices and secondly through their present presence, promoting hope, unity and cohesion among the people.”
Citing recent statistics, he said more than 12,000 memorial services were held in cities and villages across the country in the past year. Additionally, next Monday will coincide with the martyrdom anniversary of Mrs. Fatemeh Zahra (SA), where 100 martyrs will be commemorated in Tehran and 200 revered martyrs will be commemorated in regional centers.
“These martyrs have returned to reaffirm the nation’s resilience against its enemies,” he concluded.
In another part of the ceremony, Mohammad Samadi, director of the Visual Arts Center of the Holy Defense Organization, explained the development process of the collection. “Of the 11,000 submitted photographs, only 110 were selected for the exhibition. This demonstrates the meticulous, rigorous and professional nature of the selection process.”
Farhad Soleimani, head of the Department of Photography at the Faculty of Fine Arts, who was involved in the initial compilation of the related catalog, spoke about the delicate characteristics of these works. “A key feature of this collection is the photographer’s Indigenous perspective and the geographic diversity of the images. Their outside-the-box approach to memorial ceremonies has elevated these photographs from mere records to cultural artifacts.”
General Soleimani summarized the core of these works as follows: “Although these works are associated with martyrdom and remembrance, the underlying spirit is not one of sadness, but one of heroism, majesty, and Ashura-inspired culture. This is the peace, pride, and spirituality that many visitors feel when they view the collection.”
The exhibition “On the Shoulders of Tears” will be on display until December 1st.
SAB/