Mehregan Pezeshki

“Colors of Change: Weaving Women’s Stories of Peace”

“Acting Like Women” Fundraiser
120 minutes, 2024
Bob Baker Marionette Theater, Los Angeles, CA

“In the dance of time’s tangle, let us pause to gather the threads of women’s history, weaving a
vibrant reminder of the strides once boldly taken. For in the echoes of our past struggles lie the
whispers of courage and resilience, guiding us forward with unwavering determination.”

“Inspired by the courageous activism of the Sisters of Survival and the resilient spirit of Iranian
women, my performance honors their legacies of advocating for peace and freedom. By painting my body in the colors of the Sisters of Survival and weaving them into a yarn wig, I
symbolize the interconnectedness of women’s struggles for peace, justice, and liberation. As I braid and cut the strands, I evoke the act of women in Iran who bravely cut their hair as a
form of protest, reclaiming their autonomy and challenging oppressive norms. Through this performance, we reflect on the universal quest for peace amidst conflict and the diverse ways
women have historically resisted injustice. Each braid offered to the audience serves as a tangible reminder of our collective commitment to peace and solidarity across borders and
struggles.”

Body Painting by Delbar Shahbaz

Photographer: Lianna Nakashima

Iranian women have had a very contentious history with the Hijab, the Islamic covering often mandated by Islam to prevent the sexual arousal of men. Previously optional, this mode of dress was declared illegal in the 1930s, as Reza Shah, the ruler of Iran tried to force Western modernity on the population. After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the pendulum swung in the other direction, with the Hijab being mandatory and strictly enforced with beatings and incarceration. Extreme punishment, however, has not dissuaded Iranian women from their fight for freedom.

In 2014 Masih Alinejad, an Iranian journalist and activist based in United States, started a movement called My Stealthy Freedom, where women were encouraged to post photos of their uncovered heads on social media. More publicly, on White Wednesdays, women would wear a white headscarf in public as a gesture of support for freedom of choice (with or without Hijab). This movement grew to draw attention to other social injustices facing the women of Iran. The government’s reaction was to crack down with further arrests and imprisonment, resulting in sentences as harsh as 24 years and many women leaving the country for a life in exile.

In this project I will use the rhythmic beatings of a percussion instrument to symbolize and draw attention to the repression of Iranian women. Audience participation will be encouraged by distributing additional instruments for the audience to accompany the performance and thus support and be the voice of Iranian Women.

Fall 2019