Behnaz Farahi

Behnaz Farahi is a computational artist, designer and architect that is currently teaching as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Design, California State University, Long Beach. Her work addresses critical issues such as feminism, emotion, perception, and social interaction.

Blindness, 2023, Projection on an inflatable, 50" - 60" balloon

"We live in a time when there are many instances of violence and atrocities happening around the world, often in the context of protests. In many cases, protesters have been met with excessive force from police and military forces, including the use of metal pellets and rubber bullets. These non-lethal weapons are often used to disperse crowds, but they can cause serious injuries, including permanent blindness when used inappropriately or at close range. Although these protests are often peaceful, their nonviolent means of expressing a political objection have been perceived as ‘violence’ or ‘a riot’ by authorities, and this has been used to legitimize their violent actions. For instance, hundreds of protesters in Iran have been blinded by metal pellets and rubber bullets in the last few months. Likewise, in the US in September 2020, during Black Lives Matter, at least 23 people were blinded or partially blinded by munitions used by the police. In Chile, at least 230 people have lost sight while participating in demonstrations of inequality and poor social services.

In this context, this immersive installation is a commentary on the importance of nonviolent means of political expression and holding governments accountable for their violent actions. Only by standing up for our basic human rights and democratic values can we hope to build a more just and equitable society.