Open Head سرباز

08:07ms, Two Channel Video Installation, 2017

In 2018, I began working on Sarbazi (meaning "soldier") in response to Iran’s forced military conscription. When my brother was required to serve, I started questioning how two years of mandatory service could shape a person’s future, and the fear families faced, especially amid threats from ISIS and border conflicts. I discovered footage from a military marketing program and manipulated its propaganda to expose the psychological conditioning used to instill a sense of duty and sacrifice. The highly saturated visuals in the work draw inspiration from childhood cartoons and national broadcasts during the Iran-Iraq war, revealing how the government framed military service as a sacred obligation from a young age. My project, Open Head, consists of two single-channel video installations exploring various manipulative programs—from military indoctrination to Zoorkhaneh's male-dominated ancient fitness ritual. This work challenges the narratives of duty, sacrifice, and nationalism embedded in Iranian society.