This particular Nowrouz carried with it a greater deal of importance, to me and many more Iranians. Recent times have been difficult. One of the greatest wars in modern history is taking place in my homeland, where tens of thousands of people were massacred by an occupying deathly regime earlier in January, where digital darkness roams and no news come out; where the dearest of people to many others and me, parents and family and relatives and friends live.
Despite all this, I could eventually find the thoughtwaves that sparked more hope and light in me; through ancient knowledge, wisdom, philosophy and celebrations that could never be erased from books and scripts, nor of minds and hearts. This time I tried my best to set an inspired traditional haft-sin table and in the end it did turn out the way I wanted it to.
Once the burst of excitement and short-lasted happiness of spring’s arrival passed, I hoped as seasons change, a new season of peace and calm, prosperity and opportunities can also start in Iran soon. May light and truth prevail.

Nowrouz Pirouz
Long Live Iran
March 2026

نوروز پیروز
پاینده ایران
فروردین ۲۵۸۵

روشنایی بر تاریکی پیروز است

It is not unexpected for these forests to dress white and become colourless from late december to early february, however it snowed in late march this year, making it a good opportunity to suprise my nervous system with scarce senseations and sceneries.

It could be probably the last time I see this amount of snow, until hopefully sometime later this year in fall or winter...

sense the silence

Sizdah-bedar (literally translated thirteen outdoors) marks the last day of Nowrouz and new year’s celebrations, when we plan a picnic outside, take the Sabzeh (green sprouts seen on the haft-sin table) with us to give away to a body of running water, typically rivers, and to embrace and celebrate the spring’s arrival and the renewal of nature once again. I spent this year’s sizdah-bedar solitary by the Dreisam river. Always a peaceful and grounding experience. Although it was a bit chilly, the sun was shining and made it pleasant enough to have a short picnic outside.
Remembering all the loved ones in homeland, I let the water take my sabzeh away - hoping for the outcast of all evil and Ahriman. Walked back home thinking about how Iran possibly has the biggest picnic day annually (and possibly globally)!

May our connection to the nature remain constant and ever-growing.

بهاری پدید آمد از دشت و راغ زمین شد پر از سبزه و بوی باغ

ancient trees, of the first to bloom

Green leaves, flowers and trees
Rain washes the winter bid
Will slowly walk down the hill
Then I’ll cross the bridge
With singing birds being heard
I just feel less hurt



Clouds, fresh weather
I smell the soil
and hear the river
Footfall, my soul’s soar
Just a lover of petrichor

And It’s gonna be better
I feel the spring in the air
x

rain washes the winter bid

Recently, I had a vision where I could make the warm bright sunlight that shines in through my window in the early afternoon until the sunset, colourful and less restless.
A few weeks later and I made window frames made of paper and coloured plastic pieces that could grant me this vision. Despite my thus far difficult relationship with the sunlight, I think I can say I enjoy sunny afternoons more these days. Let’s see how I’ll feel about it in summer. My original inspiration for this project was the Orsi windows of the Nasir-ol-Molk mosque (aka the pink mosque) in my hometown, Shiraz. The day I finished this project also fell on the annual Shiraz day. I miss that place and its sights and smells especially at this time of the year.
To further appreciate the warmth of these days I decided to make jam from the strawberries I had bought at the Münstermarkt of Freiburg. Seasonal fruits and flowers bought from lovely local people, quite joyful I say.
I close this series of thoughtwaves from Saadi Shirazi, the compassionate Persian poet whose words are always full of wisdom and hope:

Do not think from that door, forever open in sight
that the hand raised in longing will be denied its right

مپندار از آن در که هرگز نبست
که نومید گردد بر آورده دست

Colourful Illumination