Delara's painting exhibition: April 28, 2007 Amsterdam

An exhibition of Delara Darabi’s paintings will be held in Amsterdam on April 28th, 2007. The exhibition was sponsored by Amnesty International, “Culture factory” and Shahrzad News. During the exhibition there will also be some presentations about issues such as Freedom of speech, executions in Iran and Iranian women rights.  Exhibition title is Freedom of Colors. For more information about Exhibition and it’s address please visit here

 

  Top: Delara’s family being photographed in Tehran exhibition    Bottom: Ambassadors of France and Switzerland

Last fall a similar exhibition titled “prisoner of colors” was held in Tehran. 

In a letter written by Delara which was presented at the Tehran exhibition last year, she wrote:

“Do you know what a prisoner of colors mean? It means me.  I, whom from the age of 4 had my life divided by colors and on the onset of my 17th birthday lost them. I depicted grimy red for cobalt blue and sprayed gray to fill the sky.  And now the only image that unfolds everyday in front of my eyes is the face of a wall.  I, Delara Darabi, 20 years old, convicted of murder, sentenced to death, for the past three years have been defending myself with colors, forms and expressions. These paintings are the sworn witnesses to an uncommitted crime….that the colors may return my life back. From behind the walls I say hello and welcome to you who have come to see my paintings. “

“For the past three years I have analyzed and turned around myself, in the corner of an accusation.  I need greatness not pity nor forgiveness…except from my God.  I know this story has to be resolved with a pardon and I know that my three years of struggle for attaining my rights and my innocence to be heard is not getting anywhere, but let’s Pass…

An imprisoned man once said: “My only claims are my calls to God from my small prison, and my answers to God in the vast filed of freedom within these four walls.”

I believe creations flourish within our human, social, financial or spiritual bottlenecks and it is only after the sense of drowning that the struggles begin. I too have not been exempt from this rule .

“The collection in front of you, is a collection of my love and happiness presented to your eyes and to see Delara’s spirit with no judgments and no prejudice!” “I do not know from which path of this land you have come to see my paintings. After all it does not matter much for I know that your true guide has been “love”.  Love of life, humanity and faith, which is the belief in them all … These paintings show that even in darkness one does not have to be prisoner of own hopes.  It is not important where we are …God’s love is always with us …and his promise of truth.” “….Pray for all Delara’s in the faraway lands.” Delara Darabi Rasht Prison Fall 2006 

 

  Source: Shahrzad News, Varesh blog by Asieh Amini, BBC News, Pakhuis Dezwijger