Jān o Nān o Ān

This work is a reflection on the social movements that have taken place in Iran over the past decade, and on the lives lost in the search for Jān—a life lived with dignity and meaning; Nān—the hope for economic stability and the basic needs of everyday existence; and Ān—a moment of peace, a brief possibility of calm and belonging.

On the back of the work, the entire Persian alphabet is present. Each letter carries the memory of a name, a life, and a story that was lost. The alphabet becomes becomes a quiet record of absence, remembrance, and the stories that remain.

Jān (جان) means life, soul, and the inner self—the essence that gives existence its vitality. When spoken after someone's name, it becomes a term of affection, much like "dear" or "beloved." In poetry and everyday language, it carries a sense of profound love and closeness, describing someone or something as precious as one's own life.

Nān (نان) means bread, the most fundamental symbol of nourishment and survival. Beyond its literal meaning, it also speaks of livelihood, sustenance, and the means to make a living. It evokes the everyday realities of work, security, and the simple necessities that sustain life.

Ān (آن) refers to a brief moment, a passing instant. In poetry and philosophy, however, it takes on a more elusive meaning: a state of being that can be felt but not fully explained, something that exists just beyond language, present only for an instant before it disappears.