Photographer: Isabel Turner
Iranian - Australian Contemporary Multidisciplinary Artist
Yasamin Khadembashi is a first-generation Iranian-Australia visual artist. Influenced by her families experiences during the Iranian Revolution, the Iran and Iraq war and immigrating to Australia, her works reflect the lives and experiences lived in diaspora. Her works examine the abuse of human, women and queer rights within Iran, magnifying the effects of the revolution on women's liberties, choice and freedom. Often examining the isolation, loss of identity and individuality felt among women and minorities when the Revolution occurred. As a Iranian female artist living in Australia, Yasamin knows her position is privileged and feels obligated to raise awareness of the real experiences lived by women and minorities effected by the tyrannical corrupt dictatorship that is the Islamic Republic.
Photographer: Isabel Turner
Yasamin draws from post 9/11, Cronulla riots and Sydney Siege cultural context, mimicking the paranoid social mindset of Western countries, the racial discrimination and mistreatment of Middle Easterners, immigrants and Muslim communities. Her works engage with issues experienced by first generation, people of colour and immigrants, often being ostracised, marginalised and forced to assimilate when moving to Western countries. Her work revolves around the identity crisis many Middle Eastern and Muslim people feel in a predominantly Western society, the experiences, insights and trauma felt by the children of diaspora. Her work signifies the loss of language, heritage, customs, beliefs, values, food, dance, music and ultimately identity when being forced to assimilate and navigate within hostile lands. She delves into the cultural shift from oriental Muslim and Middle Eastern cultures to an Australian society; emphasising the isolation, displacement, vilification and suspicion placed upon communities of colour and migratory status.
For Women, Life, Freedom.
I acknowledge that I am a settler who lives and works on the unceded lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people. I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging. Always was and always will be Aboriginal land.